LEEDS Trinity University has been awarded a rating of silver by the Department for Education.

The Horsforth-based university has received the award as part of the Teaching Excellence Framework

which assesses higher education institutions on the quality of teaching and the outcomes they achieve. Assessments take into account factors such as teaching quality, student satisfaction and graduate employability.

The university, was awarded silver for its supportive educational culture, innovative assessment and feedback, use of technology, professional input into its degree courses and support for employability including compulsory professional work placements for all undergraduate students.

Professor Ray Lloyd, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, said: "We are absolutely committed to enhancing and enriching the student learning experience at Leeds Trinity University, and the award today is recognition of our institution consistently exceeding rigorous quality requirements for higher education in the UK.

"As students begin to use the TEF to make decisions about where to study in 2018, our commitment to providing an exceptional student experience – proven by today’s results – puts Leeds Trinity in an excellent position moving forward.”

The TEF was introduced by the Government, and managed by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) to build evidence about the performance of the UK’s higher education sector.

Madeleine Atkins, Chief Executive at HEFCE, said: "Students invest significant amounts of time and money in their higher education. They rightly expect a high-quality learning experience and outcomes that reflect their potential. The UK already has a high bar for quality and standards, which all universities and colleges must meet. But the TEF judges excellence above and beyond this, clearly showing the highest levels across the sector.

"The TEF measures the things that students themselves say they care about: high-quality, engaged teaching and a supportive, stimulating learning environment which equips them with the knowledge and skills they need to achieve their potential, and then to progress to a good job or further study."

Leeds Trinity has recently invested £5.7million in an extension to its Andrew Kean Learning Centre to encourage student-led teaching.

Becky Hammill, a final year Journalism student said: "The lecturers at Leeds Trinity are all experts in their field and use their own experience in industry to make it a truly fantastic learning environment, with their passion for their subject shining through. The work placement alongside the variety of disciplines available to study have made such a difference to my studies and future career.”

The TEF complements the existing Research Excellence Framework (REF) which assesses the quality of research in UK higher education institutions.