City of Bristol College has once again been recognised as the top performing Further Education establishment in the region, following the release of the Government’s 2024-2025 National Achievement Rate Tables (NARTs). This marks the second year running that the college has secured this prestigious position, reinforcing its reputation for delivering exceptional outcomes for learners.
The annual NARTs provide a comprehensive overview of how effectively education providers support their students, offering valuable comparisons at both regional and national levels.
City of Bristol College has seen its overall achievement rates improve by 1.2 percentage points, placing the college an impressive 3.2 percentage points above the national average. This continued upward trajectory firmly secures the college’s place within the top 25% of Further Education colleges nationally, while also maintaining its position as the highest performing college in the West of England Combined Authority (WECA) region.
Strong performance has been demonstrated across the board for all provision areas.
The results show that the 16-18 provision has improved, with a percentage point increase compared to last year’s results; solidifying the college as the best in the region for this age group.
Adult provision continues to be a standout strength, performing exceptionally at 4.5 percentage points above the national average and placing the college within the top 20% nationally.
In core subjects, the college continues to exceed expectations. GCSE English and Maths achievement rates for grades 4-9 are 1.6 percentage points above the national average, with Adult English provision performing particularly strongly at 12 percentage points above national benchmarks.
GCSE Maths provision also exceeds national averages by 2 percentage points, with youth provision outperforming by 2.1 percentage points.
Several subject areas have delivered particularly notable results:
- Construction programmes have built on last year’s remarkable 15 percentage point increase with a further 2 percentage point rise, now sitting 6 percentage points above the national average.
- Business and Administration programmes remain the best in the region, achieving over 10 percentage points above national averages.
- Health, Public Services and Care programmes are over 3 percentage points above national averages, while Education and Training programmes exceed them by more than 5 percentage points.
- Preparation for Life and Work programmes are 4 percentage points above national benchmarks.
- Retail and Commercial Enterprise programmes are nearly 2 percentage points above the national average and are also the best in the region.
Speaking of this incredible achievement, Julia Gray, Principal and Chief Executive Officer, commented: “These results are a powerful reflection of the hard work, ambition and resilience shown by our students, alongside the unwavering dedication and expertise of colleagues.
“At City of Bristol College, we are committed to delivering an inclusive, high-quality education that enables every learner to thrive and progress, whatever their starting point.
“To be recognised once again as the top performing Further Education college in the region, and among the strongest nationally, is something we are incredibly proud of. We will continue to build on this success to ensure that we provide the very best opportunities for our students and make a lasting, positive impact on our community.”
