College meets the gold standard

Blackpool and The Fylde College (B&FC) has been awarded an overall ‘Gold’ rating for the standard of its higher education – including providing outstanding rates of progression for students.

B&FC, which operates from five campuses and four specialist centres and employs 1,000 people, has received ‘Teaching Excellence Framework Gold’.

This is the highest possible award in the revamped ratings by higher education regulatory body the Office for Students.

The college, which works extensively with more than 1,800 local, national and international employers, is one of only two higher education (HE) institutions in the North West to receive the honour.

The award provides an overall rating made up of two individual assessments relating to student experience and outcomes.

B&FC is currently one of only three further education colleges in England to receive Gold for all three elements out of a total of 228 HE providers.

And it is also the only institution in Lancashire and one of only two HE providers in the North West to achieve this accolade.

College principal Alun Francis, pictured, said it was an even greater achievement given the geographical nature of the college and the diverse make-up of its students and apprentices.

And he added: “Our student-centred approach and smaller class sizes ensure our learners succeed in their course and progress to highly skilled employment through a bespoke offering that caters for their needs throughout their time with us.

“This Gold rating is evidence that our extensive efforts for every student and apprentice, and recognition that our personalised approaches with wraparound support, are working.

“It is particularly rewarding that so many students – from our University Centre close to the centre of Blackpool to Fleetwood Nautical College, where our seafaring students study – got involved in feeding back to the Office for Students about their positive experiences.”