Bath College has been praised in a new report published by the higher education watchdog, after a team of reviewers for the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) visited in October 2015.
The purpose of the review was to judge whether standards at the college match up to rigorous national standards.
Reviewers said Bath College is meeting the highest standard possible and also praised the college’s music production course.
They found its academic standards, the quality and enhancement of its student learning opportunities, and the quality of information about its learning opportunities, all meet UK expectations.
Bath College’s music production course was identified as an example of good practice for other colleges and universities.
Reviewers said the course “gives students access to people working successfully in the industry and cutting edge facilities, enabling them to develop their academic, personal and professional potential.”
They said: “Bath College sees employability as being of strategic importance. Employer links are strong in most courses providing opportunities for students to gain practical skills and increase their employment prospects.
“Local employers are engaged with, and supportive of, the college. The college has clear strategies and effective practices for developing and promoting employability skills and activities for its students.”
Mark Smithers, learning co-ordinator for music technology, was pleased to hear the review team’s comments on music provision at Bath College.
He said: “We have forged many links with local employers and music students regularly undertake work-based learning and complete real industry briefs.
“This has allowed us to prepare students for employment and nurture important contacts within the field.
“At Bath College we are very lucky to have state of the art facilities and staff with years of industry experience. It’s nice to hear the positive comments from the QAA review team.”
QAA’s higher education reviews are carried out by experts from other universities, colleges and a student reviewer.
A successful review allows a college to display the QAA Quality Mark, indicating to UK and international students that it meets national requirements for standards and quality.
Bath College principal Matt Atkinson said: “We are delighted with this positive review of our higher education provision and are pleased that the review team recognised that our provision, which is highly focused on employment and job outcomes, meets expected standards.”
The review also made some recommendations for improvement, including clarifying the appeals process within the college admissions policy.
It was recommended the college adopt a consistent approach to making external examiner reports available to all students.
Judy Lye-Forster, vice-principal for quality and students, said: “The college constantly strives to improve provision and we will action plan around the points identified to ensure that these recommendations are met.
“Students can be confident that if they apply here they can get a good qualification. The QAA looks at all higher education providers, it’s not just further education, so the standards are very high.
“We’re being judged alongside all higher education providers across the country.”
