DESPITE the turbulent economic crisis Weston College has had a ‘fantastic’ year and has made a surplus of �400,000.

At a presentation of its annual report, principal Dr Paul Phillips addressed representatives from North Somerset and Weston town councils, along with regional businesses and organisations, to reveal the highlights and achievements of the academic year of 2009/2010.

Dr Phillips said that despite harsh economic decisions and uncertainty over Government policy, the college has had a ‘demanding and exciting’ year, expanded its range of courses, invested in a new skills campus and has received many awards.

Dr Phillips said: “In terms of maintaining our aspirations we have had a fantastic 2009/2010.

“It was a year when we had to deal with considerable change and the current year is even more challenging. Irrespective of that, we believe we will reap the rewards and develop our position as a leading education provider.

“Our success is down to our external partnerships and our fantastic staff.”

In the 2009/2010 year the college turned over �32million and made a surplus of �400,000, which will go into its reserves.

Among the significant results from the year was a 99.8 per cent pass rate for A-levels, a 100 per cent pass rate for BTEC national diplomas and a 100 per cent pass rate for the NVQ level two course.

Dr Phillips said Weston College was bucking the trend by opening its new South West Skills Campus, in Weston’s Locking Road, at a time when very few other colleges are investing in capital projects.

North Somerset Council’s chief executive, Graham Turner, said that while the demand for budget cuts was hitting local authorities hard, the downward trend was also an opportunity to innovate and be creative.

At the presentation Mr Turner praised Weston College’s approach to ‘determining its own destiny’.

He said: “I believe North Somerset and the West of England is a fantastic place, and this is the one area of the country that will lead Britain out of the recession.”