HAMPSHIRE colleges are celebrating success in the latest league tables that measure the performance of educational establishments across England.

Issued by the Department for Education (DfE), the tables highlight the progress of sixth-forms and further education establishments across the county, many of which have been awarded merits and distinctions.

Vanessa Cass, principal of Itchen Sixth-Form College in Bitterne, Southampton, said she was “extremely proud” of its achievements.

“The college has demonstrated improvement in all areas and above average improvement in Applied General courses and English GCSE performance,” she said.

“The results reflect the excellent work ethic of the students and staff and we are very pleased with the college’s direction.”

A Southampton City College spokesman added: “City College is pleased that the performance table results for our young people have improved this year.

“This is the result of hard work by both our students and staff.”

St Anne’s Catholic School & Sixth-Form is also pleased with its showing in the new tables.

A spokesman said: “We are very proud of the academic achievements of our sixth-form students. 

“Through their hard work and determination, coupled with excellent support, they all achieved excellent results, allowing the vast majority to gain their first choice at university.”

Stephen Carville, principal of Peter Symonds College in Winchester, added: “I am absolutely delighted at the outstanding success of our students.

“The performance tables confirm once again that students get far better grades at Peter Symonds College than would be expected when you take account of the GCSE results they start with.

“Peter Symonds students were either top or second among Hampshire colleges for every single measure in the league tables this year.”

Principal Jan Edrich, of Eastleigh College, said: “Eastleigh College’s current student success rate for all 16-18 year old learners is around two-per-cent above the national average.”

Meanwhile, secondary schools across the county are continuing to celebrate their success in the tables.

As reported in yesterday’s Daily Echo, the DfE data previously focused on the proportion of pupils at each mainstream primary school who achieved at least five C grades at GCSE, including maths and English.

That performance indicator has now been replaced with new headline measures, including Attainment 8 and Progress 8.

Progress 8 looks at the progress a pupil makes from the end of primary school to the end of secondary school, comparing their results with the achievements of others who have the same prior attainment. 

Jonty Archibald, head teacher Regents Park School, Southampton, said: “We are very pleased with the results.

“Progress 8 of +0.46 puts us second in the city for the second year and in the top nine-per-cent of all schools nationally.

“This is testament to the continued and sustained improvement of the school and our focus on students achieving more than they thought was possible.”