LEYLAND'S Runshaw College is top of the class when it comes to providing education for all, according to education inspectors.

Following a recent inspection of the Langdale Road college, Further Education Funding Council (FEFC) chiefs found the proportion of lessons to be 'good or outstanding' -- 12 per cent above the national average.

The four-yearly inspection also identified student achievement rates to be 'high on most courses' with attendance rates above the national average.

Students were praised for being well behaved with most achieving good grades.

The tertiary college -- which has a site in Market Street, Chorley -- was established in 1974 as a sixth form college with 350 students. It now runs Leyland Motors Technical College, responsible for adult education and has 43 outreach centres.

It also provides an education service to Garth and Wymott prisons in Ulnes Walton, Chorley.

Using a one to five grading system FEFC inspectors awarded top marks to three of the college's curriculum areas while a further three teaching divisions scooped grade two status.

However, inspectors found the Basic Skills curriculum area to provide 'satisfactory provision with strengths but also some weaknesses' and awarded it grade three in the report.

Other areas of weakness identified in the report included poor results in GCSE English, psychology and NVQ health, social care and child care while cross-college provision was given top marks in most areas.

Jim Smith, admissions tutor at Runshaw, said: "The inspectors confirmed that Runshaw's priorities are dealt with fairly and squarely.

"We have quality teachers who care about our students and the report prove that students come first.

"Our priorities for several years have been to enhance the student experience by putting all our input into their quality of learning and environment."