Just one of 16 in the country, Sparsholt College has received a new award to mark its excellence

Sparsholt College, near Winchester, has been selected as one of the first 16 Centres of Vocational Excellence (Cove) in England.

The college, which enjoys an international reputation for its educational standards, is now being held up as a shining example of how further education colleges should meet the current and future skills needs of the nation.

Sparsholt is among 16 Coves unveiled by the Learning and Skills Council as 'pathfinder' colleges in a three year £100m initiative designed to improve vocational skills.

The college has been recognised for its game, wildlife and Countryside management and fishery studies - courses currently being followed by 450 students.

At a time when many land-based colleges have struggled to remain viable, Sparsholt has continued to grow in response to new demands in expanding industries, such as fish farming.

Each of the 16 colleges was chosen as a Cove following research by the Learning and Skills Development Agency. All were found to have departments that had achieved excellence in specialist curriculum areas such as agriculture, applied science, computing and childcare.

"Pathfinder colleges such as Sparsholt will set the standard for other colleges to follow," said Peter Holliday, director of operations at the Learning and Skills Council for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

"Sparsholt consistently provides young people and adults with the high quality skills that are in tune with the needs of the rural economy and its employers. The Cove initiative aims to ensure that these standards are embraced by many more colleges as we strive to meet the current and future skills needs of the area."

Tim Jackson, Sparsholt college principal, was delighted with the Cove recognition.

"The rural economy is facing considerable challenges at the moment and it is vital that colleges such as Sparsholt provide people with the skills needed to address issues such as sustainability and diversity," he said.

"We have built an extremely effective dialogue with the commercial sector to ensure that our students are equipped with the skills needed in a rural economy that is constantly changing but which remains of vital importance to our national prosperity. For the college to be recognised in this way is a real credit to the work of the teaching staff, our partner organisations and, indeed, the enthusiasm of our students."

The 'pathfinder' Cove colleges will become operational from September.

MICHAEL FORD