Liverpool Hope University has won a top national award for its work with partner schools to create “genuinely personalised and impactful training programmes”.
The University was recognised as HEI Partner of the Year at the National Association of School-Based Teacher Trainers (NASBTT) awards in London last week.
NASBTT are the voice of school-led initial teacher training and development.
In awarding the prize, the judging panel of education experts said: “What makes Liverpool Hope University stand out is that, in a system designed to make school-based providers and universities compete, the partnership between the SCITT and the HEI is about collaboration and co-promotion, with clear co-support at a strategic level.
“The nomination states: Liverpool Hope ‘is always willing to accommodate requests for change or suggest alternatives so that together we improve trainee experiences.
“Most recently, this has seen the introduction of a new module that will reduce workload and enhance understanding of curriculum design for trainees’.”
As one judge noted: "This is a responsive partner providing access to education conferences and student support services. Active promotion of the partnership to improve recruitment to multiple routes is commendable.”
Receiving the award, Liverpool Hope University’s Head of Teacher Education Sue Cronin said: “I am delighted to accept the award on behalf of the Liverpool Hope Teacher Education team.
“Partnership is the key to everything we do so this award is very special for us.
“Our work with Associated Merseyside Partnership (AMP) shows just how powerful SCITT-University partnerships can be when we collaborate.
“AMP SCITT has been a fantastic partner for Liverpool Hope to work with; we have both supported and challenged each other to improve our programmes and practice.
“The partnership has been a win–win. In an increasingly challenging landscape, strong partnerships are essential for system improvements and we value our partnership with AMP SCITT.”
The inaugural NASBTT Awards, held at the Union Jack Club in London on July 11, were launched to celebrate excellence in school-based teacher education and recognise the exceptionally hard-working and talented professionals involved in driving the profession.
Sponsoring NASBTT’s HEI Partner of the Year award category was the Universities’ Council for the Education of Teachers (UCET), which acts as a national forum for the discussion of matters relating to the education of teachers and professional educators.