STUDENTS and staff at Burnley College are celebrating today after their annual report revealed exam pass rates above the national average.

Principal John Smith expressed his delight after receiving the college's annual report for 2000 -- 2001.

It contains details of all courses but it is exam pass rates which have really made the grade.

According to the report, student achievement rates have risen substantially. Overall, the achievement rate for all courses at the college during 2000-2001 is 94 per cent.

Students aged 16-19 came out best, reaching a 97 per cent pass rate on all full-time courses and 80 per cent of the courses had achievement rates above 90 percent.

A--Level students also excelled themselves. The overall pass rate for Burnley College A--Level course is 96 percent, seven per cent higher than the national average, and 63 per cent of those taking the exams achieve the top grades of A--C. That also tops the national average of 59 per cent.

In vocational courses the college has achieved a 95 per cent pass rate -- 22 per cent higher than the national average.

Mr Smith said: "The results are outstanding. Our pass rates have improved every year for four years.

"Last year the A-Level pass rate was 94 per cent, this year it was raised to 96 per cent, so we are going in the right direction.

"The results were not just a flash in the pan. We have been improving year on year and this year we have broken through to achieving very high results."

Mr Smith thinks that the high results are a culmination of a number of factors. "We have put an emphasis on making sure that the teaching is of a very high quality.

"We have been committed to making sure that we got the highest possible pass rates for our students, so I suppose it all stems from that determination.

"And within that we have some very able and qualified staff. We also provide very strict supervision.

"If one student misses a day at college, their parents are informed the same day. It is a very businesslike environment. People are expected to work hard, but they get the support to do it."