The National Council for the Training of Journalists has listed Sheffield College as the top training centre in its top 10 list of the country’s best accredited colleges.
Sheffield came out on top with an overall pass rate of 65 per cent in both the preliminary, senior (NCE) and 100wpm shorthand exams last year.
Nottingham Trent University was second with 55 per cent in its postgraduate diploma. The University of Salford scored 46 per cent as did London’s privately-owned journalism college noSWeat. De Montford University in Leicester and Cardiff University were next, both with 35 per cent.
The council accredits a fast-track course in further education colleges and four found their way into the list: Cornwall College scored 50 per cent, Highbury got 38 per cent and Liverpool Community College and Darlington College of Community College both scored 33 per cent.
Cardiff University students achieved the best shorthand results in the country with 88 per cent of students on the course achieving 100wpm.
The NCTJ has changed its course structures in the past year to include an assessment of student’s articles and a revamped news writing exam.
Chief executive Joanne Butcher said: ‘Although the 2007 figures were clouded by the exam changeover, that should not be allowed to detract from the excellent results achieved by the top performing courses.
‘Let’s hope their ability to turn out skilled, knowledgeable and highly-employable trainee journalists will serve to inspire others.’
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