Darlington College of Technology has secured a third successive Charter Mark award, becoming one of seven colleges nationwide to have achieved the feat.
The award highlights the college's strengths in working with the community, businesses and individuals, and recognises its continuous improvement of services.
The Charter Mark judges were impressed by the college's culture of openness, commitment to customer care and efforts to extend learning opportunities into the community and to special needs groups.
The College Shop, in Priestgate, Darlington, was highlighted as providing the community with high quality information and access to learning.
Sarah Farley, the college principal, said: "It is fantastic news that we have secured our Charter Mark again. We impressed the judging panel with the efforts that have been made to improve our delivery of services and to listen to student and customer feedback."
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