Arts schools top in the North for student satisfaction

Students who study at specialist art institutions are the most satisfied with their experience, the 2017 National Student Survey (NSS) results have revealed.
CCAD was ranked in the top 20 percent of all institutions in the UK.CCAD was ranked in the top 20 percent of all institutions in the UK.
CCAD was ranked in the top 20 percent of all institutions in the UK.

Cleveland College of Art and Design (CCAD), alongside Leeds College of Art (LCA), are topping the NSS results this year for institutions known for the arts. Both arts colleges, which offer three-year BA Hons degrees, have achieved a 91 percent overall satisfaction rating from their graduating students.

The impressive result puts both CCAD and LCA almost 10 percent ahead of the nearest specialist art institution in the rankings, and well above the national average of 84 percent.

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The NSS is an annual national survey of final-year undergraduate students that runs across all publicly-funded higher education institutions in the UK. This year’s survey gives fresh insights into student engagement, with new questions on the learning community, learning opportunities and the student voice.

National Student Survey Results for overall student satisfaction for North East, Yorkshire and Humber.National Student Survey Results for overall student satisfaction for North East, Yorkshire and Humber.
National Student Survey Results for overall student satisfaction for North East, Yorkshire and Humber.

The survey was revised in consultation with UK universities and colleges and their students. Its new and updated questions gather evidence that has not previously been available nationally.

CCAD, a specialist arts college with campuses in Middlesbrough and further north in Hartlepool, was ranked in the top 20 percent of all institutions in the UK.

Leading the way in student happiness are the students from Costume Interpretation with Design and Photography, who both gave the college a 100 percent satisfaction rating.

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CCAD, who use the strapline the northern school of art, has enjoyed success and achieved great results over the last few months, having been awarded Gold in the Teaching Excellence Framework in recognition for the outstanding quality of teaching at its university-level campus in Hartlepool.

Martin Raby, Principal, Cleveland College of Art and Design.Martin Raby, Principal, Cleveland College of Art and Design.
Martin Raby, Principal, Cleveland College of Art and Design.

CCAD was placed alongside The University of Leeds, The University of Huddersfield and The University of Newcastle as the only full-time degree providers in Yorkshire, Humber and the North East to do so.

In addition, the Destination of Leavers from Higher Education results, announced in July, placed CCAD at 96.7 percent for graduate employment or further training six months after graduating – the highest for art and design employability in the country and overall fifth in the country when compared to all providers.

Impressively, 83.2 percent of those leavers in employment were working at a professional or managerial level, well ahead of the UK rate of 71 percent for all undergraduate leavers and the national rate for relevant art and design graduates of 61 percent.

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Martin Raby, Principal, Cleveland College of Art and Design, said: “It is a credit to the entire campus community that we can now say Cleveland College of Art and Design is the top institution in north east for student satisfaction. To top the tables for satisfaction in addition to a Gold award in the Teaching Excellence Framework shows that we are delivering our degrees in the right way.

CCAD uses the strapline 'the northern school of art'.CCAD uses the strapline 'the northern school of art'.
CCAD uses the strapline 'the northern school of art'.

“At CCAD we have always been committed to offering our students the very best teaching and student experience in an intimate and creative environment, and our ranking in the NSS is testament to this. I would like to thank all the CCAD students that took the time to complete the student survey.”

Professor Madeleine Atkins, HEFCE Chief Executive, said: “The NSS continues to be the largest and most authoritative survey of its kind in the UK. Its role in gathering crucial evidence about the student experience in higher education has been enhanced this year by new questions on student engagement and updated questions to reflect the latest approaches to learning and teaching.

“The 2017 results show that students provide particularly positive feedback on the quality of teaching and on learning opportunities. Institutions will also, however, be considering carefully how they can continue to improve assessment and feedback, and their broader engagement with students.”

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Professor Sir David Bell, Chair of the Student Information Advisory Group, said: “These excellent results show that our universities and colleges continue to offer a high-quality experience for their students. The National Student Survey is instrumental in driving improvements across an increasingly diverse higher education sector. It also plays a key role in supporting student choice.

CCAD has sites in Middlesbrough and Hartlepool.CCAD has sites in Middlesbrough and Hartlepool.
CCAD has sites in Middlesbrough and Hartlepool.

"The revised survey which has been run in 2017 offers new insights on student engagement, a crucial component of a successful experience in higher education.”

Places are still available at CCAD through clearing, please visit http://hartlepool.ccad.ac.uk/clearing/ for further details.

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