St Mary’s Awarded Silver in Teaching Excellence Framework

St Mary’s University, Twickenham, founded in 1850, has continued its drive for academic excellence, achieving Silver in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF), published on 22nd June. 

Introduced as part of the Higher Education Bill, TEF recognises and rewards excellent learning and teaching to ensure that prospective students can make informed choices about the quality of their lecturers and programmes.

One of 12 institutions in London to have been awarded Silver status, the TEF Panel judged that St Mary’s delivers high-quality teaching, learning and outcomes for its students. It also found that the University consistently exceeds rigorous national quality requirements for UK higher education. 

In its summation of the evidence submitted, the TEF panel highlighted St Mary’s strategic commitment to developing excellence in learning and teaching, high-quality physical learning resources, student-staff ratio, course design, and an excellent comprehensive and embedded approach to student engagement with some elements of exemplary good practice.

Of particular note, the TEF panel found that, “Most students achieve excellent outcomes. Very high proportions of students continue with their studies and progress to employment or further study, with highly skilled employment being particularly notable.”

Speaking of the award St Mary’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof Francis Campbell said, “I am delighted that we have achieved the Silver Award in the Teaching Excellence Framework. One of our core values is excellence, and it is a testament to the diligence and dedication of staff across the University that we have received the Silver award. Since 1850, we have consistently placed a strong focus on teaching, and student outcomes and this award recognises the value and quality of our work.” 

Pro Vice-Chancellor for Academic Strategy Prof John Charmley added, “This was a tremendous team effort. Our dedicated Learning & Teaching team, working across St Mary's with our Programme and Academic Directors and their colleagues, can rightly feel that their tremendous achievements have been recognised nationally; but St Mary's will not be settling for Silver - our eyes are on Gold for the future.”

Underlining the importance of TEF to students, St Mary’s Students’ Union President Zander Lavall said, “Making informed decisions about the quality of teaching at a university is vital to students considering a university education. I am really proud that St Mary’s has achieved Silver and that future, current and past students, and the wider community, know just how great St Mary’s is at educating its students.”