Peter Symonds College

With 2500 full time students and a teaching staff of around 200, Peter Symonds College, Winchester, has a reputation for academic excellence, individual student care and breadth of opportunity.

Its A level pass rate of 98.6% means that the college is well above the national average and one of the top performing colleges in the south of England with 80% of all A level passes being in the top three grades. Twenty two subjects this year achieved 100% pass rate at A level. In sixteen subjects more than one third achieved a grade A. Put this together with an extensive programme of sporting and recreational activities and you have one of the reasons so many students want to go there.

"As a college we expect a lot from our staff and students but we seek to give a lot in return," says Principal Neil Hopkins. "We have an unofficial motto here - we care about everyone and we count in ones."

The College also has an Adult Continuing Education Division (ACE) with its own Centre a mile and a half away from the 6th Form College. The ACE Division of the College has a further 3,300 part time adults on a wide range of vocational and leisure courses including free basic skills courses. Many adult courses are run in partnership with employers and community organisations and are located in the community. Services for employers offer NVQs, IT and other bespoke courses tailored to employer needs.