Lecturers at the college have been awarded the gold standard of Higher Education in the first Teaching Excellence Framework league table – better than the Russell Group’s top universities

The City of Liverpool College has been awarded a higher rating for Higher Education teaching than some of the most elite universities in the UK.

Lecturers at the college have been awarded the gold standard of Higher Education in the first Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) league table.

According to the TEF list, published today, the college is better than the Russell Group’s top universities, such as the London School of Economics, University of Southampton, Goldsmiths, the University of London, and the University of Liverpool, who were all awarded bronze.

Just 14 further education colleges in the country achieved gold status for their HE provision, 46 were rated silver and 31 were rated bronze.

Liverpool Hope University and Edge Hill University in Ormskirk also achieved gold status.

A gold award means the City of Liverpool College provides “consistently outstanding teaching, learning and outcomes for its students” and is an institution of excellence in the UK.

There are 21 elite universities in the Russell Group and many fell short of the new benchmark set by the TEF.

Oxford and Cambridge were awarded gold, as well as Nottingham, Newcastle, Imperial College, Exeter, Leeds and Birmingham.

The TEF was introduced by David Cameron’s Government with an aim to gather evidence about the quality of teaching and learning at the UK’s universities.

The results are determined by graduate employment rates, student completion rates, which means whether they go on to further study or employment, student satisfaction survey results and a 15 page submission from providers.

Elaine Bowker, principal of The City of Liverpool College, said: “Our graduate employment rates and links with employers mean our students are able to find work and receive work-based learning that supports the economy and our students and graduates enjoy learning here.

“We are immensely proud of the award we have been given and is a testament to the hard work and commitment the college’s teachers and students have to learning and providing the highest standard of education in Liverpool.”