Key Performance Indicators
The exceptional circumstances described in the previous
page impacted on student retention, with an increase in
early withdrawals and a more significant increase in further
withdrawals for both FE and HE, and on student outcomes
with completed success rates down in the majority of subject
areas at FE and HE level.
Completed success rates for full-time FE and HE students
were lower than 2013-14, at 59% and 62% respectively. In
line with the Scottish Government’s Opportunities for All
policy, students aged 16-24 years old represented over 75
per cent of the College’s activity for 2014-15. In particular,
53.8% of all full-time students were aged 16-19 and 22.9%
were aged 20-24. Success rates for full-time courses in each
age group varied with 60.45% of 16-19 year olds, 55.96%
of 20-24 year olds and 63.09% of students aged 25 or over
completing their course successfully. Younger students
often encounter barriers to learning which require more
interventions to achieve success. In 2014-15, the College put
in place a range of support measures for students, as well as
staff development on learning and teaching strategies for
younger learners.
While success rates for part-time HE decreased to 73%,
there was an increase in completed success for part-time FE
students to 77%, a significant achievement given the 51%
increase in student numbers from 4,084 to 6,156.
COMPLETED SUCCESS
Full-time FE
58.6%
Part-time FE
77.7%
Full-time HE
62.3%
Part-time HE 72.9%
COMPLETED SUCCESS BY GENDER
HE Male
63.7%
HE Female
65.1%
FE Male
60.4%
FE Female
60.9%
* Course 160 hours or more
EARLY
WITHDRAWAL
FURTHER
WITHDRAWAL
PARTIAL
SUCCESS
COMPLETED
SUCCESS
FE Full-time
9.2%
20.6%
11.6%
58.6%
HE full-time
5.7%
20.5%
11.5%
62.3%
There was some variation in success rates in relation to where
students lived - overall, 66% of students resident in East and
South Ayrshire, and 63% in North Ayrshire, completed their
qualifications successfully.
AYRSHIRE COLLEGE / QUALITY REPORT 2014/15
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