Worsening student data is positive sign for Burnley

Plunging achievement rates are being welcomed at a Lancashire college at the centre of a data manipulation scandal.

Burnley College boasted it was “number one” in the country for achievement rates until an investigation found leaders “misled” students and parents by inflating their data, as reported by Ofsted last July – a day after the college’s principal quit.

The college had submitted inaccurate individualised learner records claiming overall achievement rates of up to 96 per cent – achieved by switching struggling students onto shorter courses.

But FE Week’s analysis of recently published data shows Burnley College’s overall 16-to-18 achievement rate dived to 78.9 per cent in 2024-25, down 17 percentage points in a single year.

It places the college 141st in the national performance tables for general FE colleges.

Last week, Ofsted published its first monitoring inspection report since handing out a ‘requires improvement’ judgment almost a year ago. The watchdog found leaders had commissioned a “series of comprehensive external audits” of the college’s individualised learner records.

This level of “detailed assurance” is now a “routine feature of the checking and monitoring cycle leaders have established to ensure data accuracy”, it said.

Leaders have “robust assurance processes in place, with qualification and achievement data recorded, validated and reported with precision”.

Ofsted had criticised governors’ lack of FE experience and for “too long” not questioning “exceptionally high” achievement rates.

The college has since appointed a new governor with FE experience and board members also now receive “clear, accurate and timely” information, according to the monitoring visit.

CEO and principal Jason Faulkner, who joined the college in February, told FE Week the new achievement rate and Ofsted findings reflected the end of a “challenging” period and the beginning of a new era for the college.

“While the college has confirmed that no learners were impacted by the data issues previously identified, the outcomes published clearly show that performance fell short of expectations,” he said.

“As the new principal, I am clear that this is not acceptable and that improvement is underway.”

Faulkner is the college’s first permanent principal since Karen Buchanan stepped down in July after being suspended four months earlier. He said his primary focus had been restoring confidence and strengthening oversight.

The college has introduced training for all managers on updated procedures to secure consistency and compliance.

“The governing body has been a driving force behind ensuring the robust oversight of quality at the college,” Faulkner added.

The real deal

Data published by the Department for Education shows Burnley College’s 16-to-18 achievement rate hovered around 96 per cent for three years before tanking to 78.9 per cent in 2024-25.

Though Ofsted’s July 2025 report highlighted that inflated achievement rates sat within level 3 provision, the college recorded its sharpest drop among the lower levels.

Level 1 achievement fell 26 percentage points to 72.5 per cent from the year before, and level 2 attainment decreased 20 percentage points to 75.9 per cent.

Achievement in level 2 preparation for life and work subjects nearly halved to 50.7 per cent in 2024-25, having recorded a 100 per cent achievement rate the year before.

Level 1 courses in preparation for life and work also plummeted to 62.8 per cent, down from 97.8 per cent.

Meanwhile, achievement across the college’s level 3 provision held up strongly, increasing from 94.5 per cent to 96.9 per cent.

Ofsted’s full inspection last March found that in previous years too many level 3 learners were “incorrectly” dropped to one-year courses when they did not complete their two-year courses.

The monitoring visit report said leaders had introduced processes to manage learner transfers, withdrawals and amendments.

Retention surgeries are also now run every two weeks to review learners identified as “at risk”.

Faulkner said: “These results reflect the past, not the future. The college is moving forward with clarity, purpose and determination and I am confident that the changes underway will lead to improved outcomes for learners, employers and the wider community.”

Inspectors also noted predictive modelling introduced this year had already proved accurate against January exam results.