STAFF in the Education Development Unit at the Ambleside campus of St Martin's College were this week celebrating an outstanding Ofsted inspection report.

The year-long inspection focused in on the way the college helped classroom teachers improve teaching and learning, the management training of teachers, and the master's degree programme.

Aspects of the courses, such as impact of provision, identification of needs, and quality assurance, were looked at and the college - which is one of the largest providers of inservice training for teachers in the country - got nine Grade 1s and three Grade 2s.

A grade one means the training is of very good quality, with several outstanding features, and a grade two means the quality is good with no significant weaknesses.

College principal Chris Carr said: "The significance of this result extends beyond St Martin's - it affirms the continuing improvement of teacher performance which inevitably impacts upon children's learning in the classroom.

"Both professionals and parents should feel reassured and confident by such an excellent outcome."