Government education inspectors have hailed teaching at Harlow College's Journalism Centre as "outstanding".

Ofsted inspectors visited for a fortnight in October and praised both teaching staff and the facilities.

The report said the centre had "good specialist accommodation and resources for journalism", providing a "professional newsroom ethos which is highly valued by the students".

It added that students were highly motivated and produced high-quality practical work "which matches the requirements of the industry".

Programme area leader for journalism, Chris Whittome, said: "We are very proud of the success of the Journalism Centre, which has been reflected in the findings of the Ofsted report.

"The teaching team are highly qualified both academically and industrially and therefore well placed to offer students the best possible advice, training and knowledge to get them their first job in the industry."

Mirror editor Piers Morgan, Radio 1 presenter Steve Lamacq, Mark Knopfler and television presenter Richard Madeley are among the college's former journalism students.

It was one of the first colleges to run journalism courses and now, following a £3m development, the Centre has moved to purpose-built accommodation for the 240-plus students who enrol each year.

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