AT THIS year's Nelson and Colne College awards evening, principal Kath Belton talked of a positive year in which A-Level results exceeded the national average and the college's reserve funds for future investment were increased by £194,000.

The college also retained its Charter Mark in December 2000 for the third time when its service was described as an exceptionally high quality.

The principal said the number of full time learners between the ages of 16 and 18 had increased by three per cent and the college had invested significantly in upgrading its accommodation and equipment.

This included college training services being relocated to the Barrowford Road site and the Learn Direct access point operating from Linden House in Colne, as well as £150,000 being invested in information and learning technology.

At the ceremony, held at the Colne Municipal Hall, a special mention was made of outstanding students Sarah Hesketh and Neil Collins who each gained five A-Levels at grade A and Charlotte Bell and Vaqas-Ur-Rehman who achieved five grade A passes at AS Level.

The overall A level pass rate was 93.1 per cent compared to the national average of 89.8 per cent, while 91.3 per cent of students passed AS level compared to 86 per cent.

Out of the 566 people on vocational courses the pass rate was 81 per cent.

Ms Belton said despite funding being a key issue, with an increasing proportion of money now locked up in earmarked funds, the college would continue to move forward.

She said: "The college has continued to work hard to open its doors to as wide a range of learners as possible and to put in place the support structures which would help them to achieve their learning goals.

"It will continue to meet the required standards and continually seek to improve the learning experience for its community. This is a tribute, not only to the excellent material provided by our learners but to the hard work and resilience of all our staff."

The college also had a good year for sport with the college teams winning the Skelmersdale Challenge for the third time in four years and students Rebecca Watson and Rachel Nuttall being selected as members of the British Colleges Squad for Ladies Hockey.

Guest speaker at the awards evening was Steve Palmer, first executive director of the Lancashire Learning and Skills Council, which plans and funds post-16 education and training in Lancashire.