TRAINEES are growing into ‘exemplary’ teachers thanks to solid grounding at an Oxford school.

Relentless ambition and enthralling course content have justified Oxfordshire Teacher Training’s ‘outstanding’ Ofsted.

The teaching school has been awarded the regulator’s best possible rating, following its first inspection since opening in 2015.

Based at The Cherwell School in Summertown, it has trained scores of teachers and helped to staff classrooms across Oxfordshire and beyond.

Impressed inspectors wrote in a report: “Trainees spoke about their pride in the teaching profession and how the training programme ‘enthralled’ them.

“Leaders are completely dedicated to producing outstanding teachers for state schools locally and further afield.

“They are relentless in ensuring that the partnership continues to improve.

“The work of the partnership is helping to meet local recruitment needs, including in schools in challenging circumstances.”

The organisation is part of the Oxfordshire Teaching Schools Alliance, which is a network of hundreds of local schools, universities, Oxfordshire County Council and other education-related organisations.

Inspectors visited in June and November, shadowing trainees, including those working at school placements in Oxford.

Their report, published last week, states: “The director [Patrick Garton] and his team are committed to excellence.

“Trainees’ professional integrity is impressive and their conduct is exemplary.”

Inspectors said school leaders were ‘delighted’ with newly-qualified teachers recruited from the organisation.

They commended its ‘contribution to schools in areas of social deprivation and those that require improvement’.

Inspectors were ‘heartened’ that some trainees go straight to excel at special schools.

Mr Garton said: “To get the top judgement at a fairly difficult time nationally [for teacher recruitment] is really encouraging.

“There is a real appetite from schools to be involved, and the majority of trainees stay locally.”

He credited a ‘brilliant team of colleagues’ with the success.

Oxfordshire Teacher Training, officially known as the Cherwell OTSA SCITT, is part of the River Learning Trust, which also runs The Cherwell School.