Dundee and Angus College has declared itself the best in Scotland and has the figures to back it up.
The college outstripped the national Higher and Intermediate two pass rates and has the best success rates for students from the most deprived areas.
Principal Grant Ritchie also cited the college’s best pass rates in HNC/Ds and best student retention rates when he made his announcement.
However, the principal said there is more to a D&A College education than good grades.
Mr Ritchie described the experiences and skills that students gain at college, through work placements and extra-curricular activities as “D&A attributes”, and said these make students more employable. In terms of employability, I believe D&A attributes are every bit as important as certificates and diplomas.
“We know from talking to employers and in reports from business organisations that personal skills are critical in shaping career paths, and we want to help all our students make the most of them.
“At D&A College we are determined to give our learners much, much more than qualifications and technical skills.
“The aim is to help our students build up a whole series of personal skills that will make them different from the crowd and very employable.
“We are not content to simply offer a classroom experience we can give our students the opportunity to access a whole lot of other life experience that will broaden their horizons and develop creativity and enthusiasm.
“Across all our subject areas we are offering a whole host of real life working opportunities in retail, in theatre, in our pop-up shops, our restaurants and salons, our massive fashion show, our sports union which offers students the chance to compete all over Scotland.”