Burnley College Sixth Form puts town on map after being recognised as England's number one

The centre is England’s number one, highest-achieving college, according to official figures released by the Government after analysis of results and progress rates from colleges across the country.

The award winning college, which is rated ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted, earned top place in the Department for Education’s National Achievement Rate Tables, which are produced annually.

Burnley College has taken top spot in the table, which covers education and training for 16 to 18 years olds in the last academic year covering 2018 to 2019.

Principal Karen Buchanan said: “I am immensely proud that the outstanding, on-going efforts of our students,

apprentices and staff have been recognised nationally.

"However, success for us, in the Burnley College family, is not merely about statistics and league tables.

"Success is changing the lives of our students and apprentices, providing them with the skills and knowledge they need to stand head and shoulders above the rest

"It is also about providing them with the broad range of experiences which empower them to determine and shape their own future and the support to develop as confident, resilient members of society, with the drive to make a positive difference.

“We will share our pride and celebrate together as the Burnley College family when the education landscape returns to normal following Covid-19.

" It is great to have some good news to share when, for so long, our efforts have been concentrated on ensuring the academic progress and health and wellbeing of our students, apprentices and staff."

Burnley College, a pioneering Association of Colleges Beacon College, which shares teaching and learning best practice across the UK, in 2019 achieved record-breaking A' level results with a 99.8% A' level pass rate and 92% of students achieving at least one A*-C A' level grade.

Sixty per cent of students achieved at least one A*-B A' level grade and there was a 100% advanced vocational pass rate for the 16 th consecutive year.

And 95% of students achieved at least one distinction*-merit advanced vocation grade.

The college is continually investing in its £100 million town centre Campus, further expanding its industry-standard Centre of Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering Excellence; developing contemporary learning spaces filled with the latest high-tech equipment; providing additional facilities in its award-winning fitness centre Fitness Evolution and creating university-standard science laboratories.

Karen added: “Year on year, our students surpass their initial expectations, reach their goals and see their dreams come true.

"As as a college we are privileged to play a part in making this happen. We build futures and change lives: our students achieve their full potential, they progress to top universities, including the universities of Cambridge, Oxford and Russell Group institutions each year.

" They enjoy successful, rewarding careers where they can make a difference.”