THE Church of England’s education office, the National Society, has been rated “Outstanding” by Ofsted in its delivery of National Professional Qualifications (NPQs).

The inspection was carried out from 14 to 17 May through in-person and online meetings and visits to the sites of nine of the Church’s 28 delivery partners. These include teaching school hubs (centres that offer teaching and professional development for teachers and other school leaders), multi-academy trusts, and trusts affiliated to the C of E and the Catholic Education Service, among others.

About 3500 people take part in the seven C of E-led NPQ programmes.

In its report, published on Thursday, Ofsted concludes that the overall effectiveness, quality of professional development, and leadership and management training of the National Society was “outstanding”.

“Participants”, the report says, “benefit greatly from the exceptional training they receive from highly skilled and expert trainers, facilitators, and coaches. Each participant is known well by staff.”

“Highly accessible” and tailored training materials are also praised, as well as the Church’s “vision of establishing a ‘common good’ for the whole community”, and the provision of “highly valuable opportunities to reflect on how to carry out their work ethically and morally”.

Participants, the report continues, also “show a relentless conviction to continuously improve their own leadership skills and, in turn, the schools that they lead. As a result, participants flourish as leaders.”

The selection of skilled trainers is “rigorous”, and safeguarding is “of the highest priority”.

The Church’s chief education officer, the Revd Nigel Genders, said that the “‘Outstanding’ outcome is a great testament to the quality of our provision and strength of partnerships across our dioceses, MATs, and with our Catholic Education Service partners. We look forward to further deepening this commitment to exceptional training and the development of flourishing leaders in the coming years.”