University Centre Hartpury has been awarded gold in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) 2017.

It is one of only 59 UK higher education providers to achieve gold, putting it in the top 20% nationally and the only gold TEF award winner in Gloucestershire.

Some 295 universities, colleges and alternative providers of higher education voluntarily took part in the TEF with each rated gold, silver or bronze.

The TEF panel judged that, based on the evidence available, University Centre Hartpury delivers consistently outstanding teaching and learning and outcomes for its students - of the highest quality found in the UK.

The past year has also seen the organisation - that specialises in sport, equine, animal, agriculture and veterinary science education - support 98.6% of its graduates into further study or employment within six months.

The Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) was introduced by the Government to build evidence about the performance of the UK's world-class higher education sector, complementing the existing Research Excellence Framework with an analysis of teaching and learning outcomes.

Russell Marchant, principal at University Centre Hartpury and Hartpury College, said: "This is testament to the quality of our staff. Their passion for their subjects and commitment to the success of our students is commendable and we're incredibly proud of everyone who's played a part."

Rosie Scott-Ward, Vice Principal and Head of Higher Education at University Centre Hartpury, said: "This achievement comes at an exciting time, following the launch of University Centre Hartpury and our application for Taught Degree Awarding Powers. It gives us a solid framework from which to continue developing excellence across our higher education programmes."

Professor Chris Husbands, Chair of the TEF assessment panel and Vice-Chancellor of Sheffield Hallam University, said: "The Teaching Excellence Framework results offer - for the first time - an overview of teaching excellence across the entire UK higher education sector. It has been a privilege to chair this ambitious and ground-breaking assessment.

"Alongside the headline results, we are publishing all the data and submissions, and statements of the assessors' findings. Taken together, this is a set of material on teaching excellence which goes further than has been possible for any other university system in the world."

Madeleine Atkins, Chief Executive of the Higher Education Funding Council for England, 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 University of Gloucestershire gained a silver TEF award.

Stephen Marston, Vice-Chancellor, said: "The university is pleased to have achieved this silver rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework. It recognizes the progress we have made towards our goals of providing excellent teaching and learning for our students.

"Our central ambition as a university is to provide outstanding support for our students to achieve their full potential, and to equip them with a great foundation for their future careers, within a community which values them as individuals.

"This silver rating shows we can be confident that we are moving in the right direction. We intend to build on this strong foundation as we continue to work towards outstanding support for all our students."