D&A College takes top spot for student outcomes

D&A College has once again taken top spot among Scotland’s colleges.

According to Scottish Funding Council (SFC) figures, D&A was best in the country for student outcomes for full-time FE courses and was pipped by only 0.8% for full-time HE courses.

This is the third consecutive year that D&A College has been top in one or other of these measures.

The college continues to surpass national averages in terms of student success in a range of categories, including full-time HE courses, parttime HE courses, and young students aged 18 and under.

In fact, in all age groups at D&A College students performed better than the national average.

The SFC figures tracked student outcomes for the academic year 2015-16.

The numbers of students who complete courses successfully are expressed as a national percentage and individual college figures can be compared with the national average.

D&A also maintained above average results for students from deprived areas.

Welcoming the figures, D&A College principal Grant Ritchie said: “This is the third year we have proved that we are leading the sector. The real importance of these figures is that they show that our students are succeeding.”

But Mr Ritchie stressed there was no room for complacency.

“We can stand still and see other organisations overtake us, or face the challenge of achieving even greater things,” he said.

“Projections of employment opportunities in Dundee and Angus in coming years indicate a greater demand for HND level attainment from our students.

“We must meet this challenge and help drive up the economy of this area.”

Grant Ritchie