THE Church of England’s education office, the National Society, has been rated “Outstanding” by Ofsted in its delivery of National Professional Qualifications (NPQs).
The inspection was carried out from 14 to 17 May through in-person and online meetings and visits to the sites of nine of the Church’s 28 delivery partners. These include teaching school hubs (centres that provide teaching and skilled development for teachers and other school leaders), multi-academy trusts, and trusts affiliated to the C of E and the Catholic Education Service, amongst others.
About 3500 people participate within the seven C of E-led NPQ programmes.
In its report, published on Thursday, Ofsted concludes that the general effectiveness, quality of skilled development, and leadership and management training of the National Society was “outstanding”.
“Participants”, the report says, “profit greatly from the exceptional training they receive from highly expert and expert trainers, facilitators, and coaches. Each participant is thought well by staff.”
“Highly accessible” and tailored training materials are also praised, in addition to the Church’s “vision of building a ‘common good’ for the entire community”, and the supply of “highly invaluable opportunities to reflect on the right way to perform their work ethically and morally”.
Participants, the report continues, also “show a relentless conviction to repeatedly improve their very own leadership skills and, in turn, the faculties that they lead. As a result, participants flourish as leaders.”
The collection of expert trainers is “rigorous”, and safeguarding is “of the very best priority”.
The Church’s chief education officer, the Revd Nigel Genders, said that the “‘Outstanding’ final result is an ideal testament to the standard of our provision and strength of partnerships across our dioceses, MATs, and with our Catholic Education Service partners. We look ahead to further deepening this commitment to exceptional training and the event of flourishing leaders in the approaching years.”
