The Open and Distance Learning Quality Council (ODL QC), the official body for standards in distance learning, has granted Applicant Status to the International Centre for Montessori Education.

Applicant Status is a way to help providers who are beginning to develop more flexible methods of delivery. Applicants work with ODL QC to achieve the standards set by the Council, and gain full accredited status in due course.

Accreditation includes a rigorous assessment of a provider’s tutorial support, administrative systems, publicity, and course materials, and is the best way for learners to be sure of choosing a good distance-learning course.

The International Centre for Montessori Education was founded in 2001 upon a merger of two successful Montessori Training Schools. The ICME hopes soon to launch its courses online, and to expand its Teacher Training Centres worldwide.

Lesley Britton-Joffick, Academic Director of ICME, has been involved in Montessori training for over thirty years and through the network of training centres she has set up all over the world, over 20,000 students have benefited from her training programmes. She is one of the world’s leading Montessori trainers and has been involved in the Montessori Movement in North America, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Australia and New Zealand.

The Tiller School of Navigation and Seamanship was also re-accredited by the ODL QC. Tiller was first awarded Accredited Provider status in 1991, and offers a service that the accreditation report describes as “Excellent”.

Andy Thomson, Principal of the school said: “I am very pleased that Tiller has been re-accredited. It was a much more rigorous process this time round and it differentiates us from our competition. We see it as a good way to demonstrate that our business processes and approach to tuition stand up to independent scrutiny and that we ‘aim high’ in both respects. ODL QC accreditation offers reassurance to our prospective customers about the standards they can expect and provides an independent ‘guarantee'”.

Dr David Morley (Chief Executive) said:

“Tiller provides a first-class specialist service with good materials, and excellent learner support and welfare. This, no doubt, explains the high learner satisfaction.”