Bradford College has produced its best-ever showing in a national league table of teacher-training colleges.

It is the most improved college in the country, and the best in this region, beating Leeds and Leeds Metropolitan Universities.

The table is compiled by academics at Liverpool University using data from the Government's Teacher Training Agency. It is based on teaching trainees' entry qualifications, their employability when they graduate, and Ofsted ratings.

Bradford College comes 15th out of 74 institutions this year: it was placed 68th in 2002.

Leaders of the College were delighted its performance had been recognised. Gordon Lakin, director of academic programmes, said: "We welcome the publication of the TTA provider profiles which show our teacher education courses attract high quality students who are very successful in gaining employment as teachers.

"The report recognises the quality of our provision as measured by Ofsted, and the effectiveness of our partnerships with local schools in the operation of work-based routes to qualified teacher status.

"It also records the distinctive national contribution made by the College's courses in attracting people from minority ethnic communities to enter the teaching profession."

Former student Mick Hardy, now a supply teacher in primary schools, after gaining a PGCE at Bradford College last year, applauded its success, saying: "I can't fault anything about the course I took, it was excellent. There were about 75 students on my course and they all got a job."

The College's education department based in the McMillan building in Trinity Road is expecting to welcome 800 students onto TTA-related courses this September.