I FULLY support the BEN's reporting of the performance of Bolton's colleges as assessed by the Further Education Funding Council. The colleges are very much in the public domain and parents and prospective students need full information on all providers when making a choice of institution. I have to note, however, how very misleading the report on the former sixth form colleges was, especially in relation to the former North Bolton Sixth Form College. The analysis made by the Further Education Funding Council is of the achievement of all qualification aims. This is not the same, at all, as "examination success". This might be illustrated, following the article's by-line, by a tale of two students.

At South College, a student's qualification aims were made up of three A levels, plus General Studies, a total of four qualification aims. At North College, a typical student followed three A levels, plus General Studies, plus accredited enrichment courses which might add up to six or seven qualification aims. Students (and parents) were interested in the achievement of A levels and most having benefited from attending the enrichment activities declined to take the qualification. Achievement of A levels was high, but because the Funding Council aggregates all qualification aims, this fact is not conveyed.

The difference between the two former colleges is not as presented when key A level qualifications are considered. In 1999, the Bolton Sixth Form College's overall A level pass-rate was 90pc, and was identical on the two campuses (the former colleges). Clearly we are seeking to improve what is already high achievement, but the starting point is hardly as presented in the article.

Publication of information will, no doubt, be an issue again when the DFEE's league tables are published in November. Again, it will contain wholly insufficient information. Bolton Sixth Form College's average score will be influenced by the very large numbers it entered, three times the number of any other institution. The performance of its top 150 students was an average of 23.02, which can only be described as outstanding.

I do most sincerely hope that the BEN's tradition of responsible reporting will allow for a frank and full analysis of Bolton's institutions.

R Whittle

Principal

North Campus

Smithills Dean Road

Bolton

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.