Git branching strategy integated with testing/QA process - Stack Overflow

The way we do it is the following:

We test on the feature branches after we merge the latest develop branch code on them. The main reason is that we do not want to "pollute" the develop branch code before a feature is accepted. In case a feature would not be accepted after testing but we would like to release other features already merged on develop that would be hell. Develop is a branch from which a release is made and thus should better be in a releasable state. The long version is that we test in many phases. More analytically:

1. Developer creates a feature branch for every new feature.
2. The feature branch is (automatically) deployed on our TEST environment with every commit for the developer to test.
3. When the developer is done with deployment and the feature is ready to be tested he merges the develop branch on the feature branch and deploys the feature branch that contains all the latest develop changes on TEST.
4. The tester tests on TEST. When he is done he "accepts" the story and merges the feature branch on develop. Since the developer had previously merged the develop branch on feature we normally don't expect too many conflicts. However, if that's the case the developer can help. This is a tricky step, I think the best way to avoid it is to keep features as small/specific as possible. Different features have to be eventually merged, one way or another. Of course the size of the team plays a role on this step's complexity.
5. The develop branch is also (automatically) deployed on TEST. We have a policy that even though the features branch builds can fail the develop branch should never fail.
6. Once we have reached a feature freeze we create a release from develop. This is automatically deployed on STAGING. Extensive end to end tests take place on there before the production deployment. (ok maybe I exaggerate a bit they are not very extensive but I think they should be). Ideally beta testers/colleagues i.e. real users should test there.

What do you think of this approach?