ONE of the country’s leading further education publications has rated Basingstoke College of Technology (BCoT) as one of the top colleges in the UK.

The annual performance league tables published by FE Week puts BCoT as the third highest scoring college in delivering advanced technical skills training.

This rating in the publication’s 16-18 positive progression league table puts the college top of the leader board locally and one of the top colleges in Hampshire for students going into education, employment and training destinations.

BCoT principal Anthony Bravo said: “These important performance figures, which are based on key criteria published by the Department of Education, show that we deliver exceptional outcomes for our students with a staggering 91 per cent progressing to higher education, employment and training destinations.

“We are by far the very best choice locally for advanced technical skills training and there really is no reason why anyone should want to travel out of the town with BCoT on the doorstep providing exceptional training and outcomes.”

BCoT was also ranked in the upper third of 202 colleges nationwide for learner satisfaction, employer satisfaction, young and adult learners’ progression.

This adds to BCoT taking top honours in the National Achievement Tables issued by the government earlier in the year. In these BCoT was ranked number three in the country for Level 3 achievement on higher level apprenticeship programmes and was placed in the top 13 per cent for achievement at Level 3 for 16-18 year olds. These figures ranked BCoT alongside the top colleges in the area.

Mr Bravo added: “It’s great to finish the year on such a high note and following the chancellor’s autumn statement we were encouraged to hear the government is to invest further funds in the new T-levels, the technical qualification being phased in during 2019.

“As a specialist vocational college the emphasis here at BCoT is already on advanced technical skills, ensuring students are work-ready and our impressive run of league table success demonstrates we are the local experts in this field”.