HIGHER education students have poured praise on their college in a national survey designed to assess the learning experience.

Darlington College has received top marks in a host of areas in the 2020 National Students Survey, despite the final term being delivered remotely because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Final year learner's responses were returned anonymously in the annual survey.

The survey revealed that 97 % agreed their course challenged them to achieve their best, 93% agreed the course was intellectually stimulating, 93% staff were good at explaining and 93% agreed staff valued students’ opinions.

Assistant principal Mike Chapman said: “These results demonstrate that our students feel positive about the provision we offer them. You have to be doing exceptionally for it to reflect this well in the data and this shows how much work has been put in by programme leaders, particularly when study had to move online.

“Because of the smooth transition online, students didn’t lose anything along the way and received all the support they needed.”