Their Annual Engagement Visit (AEV) Report, which was published on 16 July 2024, has identified that there are no main points of action for the College and highlighted some major strengths around the areas of learner progress and outcomes:

• The overall rate of learner successful completion on full-time Further Education programmes has increased by 12% and is now 72.8% in Annual Year (AY) 2022-2023. This is an incredible 9.2% higher than national rates. 82% of learners on part-time Further Education programmes, who completed their programmes successfully, increased by 8.1% in AY 2022-2023. This is almost 5% above national rates.
• The overall successful completion rate for learners from an ethnic background in AY 2022-2023 indicates that 68.4% of learners completed their programmes successfully. This is above the sector average.
• The number of learners who completed their full-time HE programmes was 68.3% and for those on part-time HE programmes the successful completion rate was 74%.

The report noted specific activity that demonstrates an ongoing commitment to enriching the learner experience and supporting learners such as the creation of the College Way Market, which has promoted an entrepreneurial and commercial approach to curriculum design.

On the College’s approach to assuring and enhancing the quality of learning and teaching, the report states “Staff feel motivated to enhance their pedagogical practice and feel confident in professional dialogue on these themes. Teaching and support staff work well together to support an increasing number of learners who have complex and multiple learning support needs”.

South Lanarkshire College learners are at the centre of everything the College does and the report emphasised that, “Learners are confident that their voice is heard and speak highly of their lecturing staff and the opportunities provided to enter progression pathways.”

The report also recognised an array of equality and diversity events run by the South Lanarkshire College Student Association including the White Ribbon campaign, Pride Stride, LGBTQ+ History Month and Manuary. The report noted that the College was recently awarded the Emily Test Charter for the Prevention of Gender Based Violence.

The report concluded that there had been significant progress since the last Education Scotland visit to the College and detailed that South Lanarkshire College staff have acted on the areas for development, improving successful completion rates for learners on full-time education programmes. Inspectors are confident that the College has the capacity to continue to improve.

Principal and Chief Executive of South Lanarkshire College, Stella McManus said: "It’s great to see the hard work, enthusiasm and dedication of South Lanarkshire College staff and students highlighted in this positive report.

“The Education Scotland report notes excellent progress in key areas such as learner progress, outcomes, and engagement. I am pleased to see an increase in the rate of learner successful completion on both our full-time and part-time FE programmes.

“It is superb to see a wealth of activity commended from the creation of our award-winning College Way Market, the College’s programme of engaging events as well as our staff’s ability to adapt and redesign course offerings to enable shorter and more flexible modes of delivery. It demonstrates an ongoing commitment by everyone in our College community to ensuring the success of our students by providing the highest quality education, activities and support.”

The Chair of the South Lanarkshire College Board of Management, Douglas Morrison, stated that the whole Board was immensely proud of what the College had achieved in the past 12 months and the exceptional support that staff provide to students to help them progress onto their chosen destinations.”

Read more at Education Scotland Report