Journalism school to appeal loss of NCTJ accreditation

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Journalism training centre noSWeat intends to appeal a decision by the National Council for the Training of Journalists not to renew its accreditation.

On Friday, the training body announced the re-accreditation of 21 journalism courses at 14 centres, but said it would not renew its accreditation of two courses at London-based noSWeat Journalism Training.

In a statement, the NCTJ said the decision was taken after directors agreed the courses, a full-time and part-time course in newspaper journalism, "did not fully meet the NCTJ standard, aims and performance indicators".

"As with all current students on previously accredited courses, students who have started these courses at noSWueat will continue to be supported by the NCTJ and have the opportunity to sit NCTJ exams," the NCTJ added in its announcement.

But CEO and founder of noSWeat Stephen Ward disagrees and is now seeking a grant of appeal from regulator Ofqual.

He claimed the reasons given for the decision related to dated equipment, guest speakers and entrance exam, but says these have all been updated.

Courses offered by noSWeat will "proceed absolutely as normal", he added.

According to Ward the centre was the first private college to be approved by the NCTJ in 2001.