ADULT education provision in a Teesside town has won top marks.
A report by the Adult Education Inspectorate in Middlesbrough found the quality of learning in foundation courses for literacy, numeracy and language "outstanding" with good standards in family learning, information technology and foreign languages.
More than 300 students and 60 staff were interviewed by the team.
They praised clear strategic direction, good management and leadership, support for learners and good staff development.
They found teaching good or better in almost every area of learning, good achievement rates in most areas, particularly good resources in information technology and foundation courses.
The inspectors also thought the courses responded well to community needs and family learning.
The service employs 130 part-time tutors in 12 subjects, running classes from 98 community centres and venues across the borough.
The inspectors said key challenges were to improve the quality of some of the accommodation, improve management information systems and fully implement individual learning plans.
Rose Bickle, Middlesbrough's community education manager, said: "I am delighted by the outcome of the inspection. The council, staff and volunteer helpers work very hard to ensure that members of the community get a high standard of service. There is a great sense of teamwork, as the inspectors have noted.
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