STAFF and students had good reason to celebrate this week, having learned that Exeter College was ranked the best performing further education College in Devon in the latest league tables released by the Government.
According to the Department for Children, Schools, and Families Achievement and Attainment Tables 2009, the average points scored per student topped the ratings for College students taking A levels, AS levels, or equivalent level qualifications across the county in 2009.
This is a particularly admirable achievement given Exeter College offers a choice of 40 different A levels and around 20 BTEC diplomas at this level, spanning the entire curriculum – significantly more than any other institution.
The league table also demonstrates that, individual students do significantly better at Exeter College than their entry qualifications would predict, thus helping the college to meet individual aspirations of students.
The fantastic news follows on from the College’s huge success in last year’s A level results, having broken all its previous records to achieve an average 99 per cent pass rate among the 600 students who sat their A levels at the College last year – and a 100 per cent pass rate in 29 out of the 40 subjects taken. Half of all 16- to 18-year-olds who had sat their exams last summer obtained grades A to B.
Principal Richard Atkins said: “I feel immensely proud of Exeter College’s achievements, and these statistics demonstrate continued progress. Of course, this outstanding result could never have been achieved without the hard work and dedication of our lecturers, and of course, the students themselves. “We are also proud of how this reflects the strong working partnerships we have with schools and agencies in the learning communities of Exeter and the Heart of Devon.”
He added: “While we are delighted with the latest league table results and the examination results, we are not complacent. Our students may be highly ambitious and equipped with a will to succeed, but entry to the UK’s top universities remains tough, and competition for the best jobs in today’s climate is also high.
“Through our high level of teaching expertise and our specialist academies, we will continue to help our students aim for the top, excel in their chosen fields, and realise their greatest aspirations.”