Access to Higher Education Success!
Our Access to Higher Education department is celebrating statistics received from CAVA (Cambridge Access Validating Agency), the organisation which designs and validates Access to Higher Education Diplomas.
Access to Higher Education provides an alternative route of study to enable people aged 19 or over to get back into education to prepare for university or professional training. The one-year courses – equivalent to A Levels – fast-track learners onto a relevant degree and are designed to fit around homelife and work/childcare commitments.
In the recent “Craven College Unpacked” from CAVA for the 2024/25 academic year, it highlighted that Craven College’s achievement rate was 7.7% above the CAVA average, whilst an incredible 100% of Access to HE students at Craven College progress to higher education – a whopping 21.1% above CAVA average.
External moderators recognised our offering saying “Developmental feedback to the students is exemplary. The staff always provide three points of written feedback to support students further learning. I have seen this year on year and commend the staff for this as it helps students to further improve their academic skills and performance.”
“Students are very content and complementary of their course(s). Staff are very engaged and supportive of the students. Some of the work sampled was of very high standard and quality, demonstrating that those who want to achieve high are supported in their learning journey.”
Simon Reed, Access to HE Programme Leader and Lecturer in Science said, “I am exceptionally happy with the achievement and progression rates for our courses in 24/25. These results show just how hard the team works to support our learners to not only achieve their qualification but also progress to their chosen HE destinations. It also highlights the impact that our links with university stakeholders, and the talks that they deliver to our students, has on helping them progress to university.
“The results show just how much the Access to HE courses really do unlock the potential and change the lives of those that study with us, no matter their age or background.”
Stephanie McKay, Head of Department, Caring Professions added, “At Craven College we believe education should be accessible, inclusive, and transformative—and our results demonstrate the impact of a college that truly puts learners first. The success of our Access to HE provision is rooted in the exceptional quality of teaching, learning, and support our students receive every day. Our dedicated staff create an inclusive, nurturing environment where every learner is valued, empowered, and challenged to achieve their full potential. We are incredibly proud to have achieved a 100% progression rate to higher education, significantly exceeding the awarding body average of 78.9%, alongside an achievement rate that is almost 8% higher than the national benchmark. These outcomes reflect not only the commitment and expertise of our teaching team, but also the strength of our supportive, student-centred approach .Many of our learners progress on to highly competitive and in-demand health profession degrees, including Midwifery, Radiography, and Paramedic Science—an achievement that reflects both the ambition of our students and the strength of our preparation.
“Our Access to HE course is specifically designed for adult learners—those returning to education after raising a family or seeking a meaningful career change—providing a supportive pathway to rebuild confidence, develop academic skills, and achieve their ambitions.”
Find out more about Access to Higher Education at Craven College.
