Solid Silver for UON in Teaching Excellence Framework

The University of Northampton has been awarded Silver in the Teaching Excellence Framework announced today (28 September).

Also known as the TEF, this is a national scheme run by the Office for Students (OfS) that assesses and rates universities and colleges for excellence in the quality and standards of their undergraduate education.

Providers that take part in the TEF receive an overall rating and two others – one for the student experience and one for student outcomes. UON has been awarded silver for each aspect and silver overall, meaning ‘the student experience and student outcomes are typically very high quality.’

UON Vice Chancellor Anne-Marie Kilday said: “We are delighted to have received a Silver award in the 2023 Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF), and very proud of all the UON staff and Students’ Union staff and officers whose work contributed to this outcome.

“This judgement means that the University of Northampton student experience and student outcomes are typically very high quality, when considered in the context of the whole UK higher education sector. The Silver award applies until 2027, and during this time we will continue to build on our achievements and make evidence-based improvements in line with our mission to support aspiration, create opportunities and deliver impact.”

Our website provides more detail and context alongside examples that led to the award, including:

• “very high quality teaching, feedback and assessment practices, that are effective in supporting students learning, progression and attainment.”
• “course content and delivery effectively encourage students to engage in their learning and stretch and challenge students to develop their knowledge and skills.”
• “the provider fosters a supportive learning environment and its students have access to a range of very high quality academic support.”
• “the provider deploys and tailors approaches that are highly effective in ensuring that students succeed in, and progress beyond, their studies.”

For more information about the TEF – including guidelines about how providers can discuss TEF with applicants visit the ‘About the TEF’ pages of the OfS website.