Top of the class

SHETLAND College and the NAFC Marine Centre have together the highest rate of full time further education students completing their courses successfully.

The Shetland rate of the two University of the Highlands and Islands Institutions (UHI) of 81.6 per cent is well above the Scotland-wide success rate of 65.5 per cent.

However, in other performance indicators the two colleges are not doing that well.

Pass rates for part-time students, female students and those under the age of 18 enrolled on courses lasting longer then 160 hours are below the Scottish average.

Colleges principal Willie Shannon said figures from the Scottish Funding Council also revealed that the two colleges were providing more courses than what is required by the current level of funding.

He said this clearly showed that there was a “significant need” for more further education courses to be provided in Lerwick and Scalloway.

“Exceeding activity targets and having the highest completion rate for courses is a confidence-booster for everyone involved in the sector in Shetland,” he said.

“The challenge is to make sure that the money follows the activity. For that we need extra money coming in to Shetland so that we can continue to meet demand and deliver for the community”.

The chairmen of the two colleges, Peter Campbell for Shetland College and David Sandison for the NAFC, both said they were encouraged by the figures.