Ofsted showcases Hartpurys approach to developing teacher talent

Ofsted has again singled out Hartpury College for praise by showcasing its approach to developing its teaching staff.

Following on from the College’s 2010 outstanding inspection rating, Hartpury’s unique approach to developing its staff is featured as an example of good practice on the Ofsted website.

Ofsted say teaching staff at Hartpury “enjoy working at a college that focuses on their development and provides opportunities and support to progress and improve. They have benefited from a well-developed mentoring system and close monitoring of their work which have helped them to improve. Most of all they see themselves as central to the College’s success. How well students perform depends on them and they are happy to be judged by that.”

The case study looks in detail at how the College has developed high quality teaching during a period of significant growth over the last 20 years.

Malcolm Wharton, Principal, says: “When you have grown as quickly as we have, you need a lot of staff and you need them to provide a high standard of education and training consistently and from the outset. We have found over the years that to meet these demands, growing and developing your own people is probably the single most important element of our staffing strategy.”

Luke Rake, Hartpury’s Vice Principal (Further Education), says: “Hartpury develops young and inexperienced teachers exceptionally well, primarily through demanding but supportive systems which really allow students the chance to share their passion for sport, equine or land-based studies. Staff are proud of where they work, and for those with ambition, the management and governors will support this wholeheartedly.”

To find out more about Hartpury’s staff development, visit:

http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/resources/good-practice-resource-developing-your-own-staff-hartpury-college