Quality & performance indicators

The Scottish Funding Council (SFC) annually publishes the performance indicators (PIs) for each college and also for the sector as a whole.

These PIs are one measure of the performance of a course of study although many other factors can also lead to a positive outcome.

  • 1

    Early Withdrawal

    This indicates that a student has withdrawn from their course before the ‘funding qualifying date’ i.e. up until 22/23 this is before approximately 25% of the course has elapsed. From 23/24 this is after 5 weeks of a full-time course start date and remains at 25% of a part-time course. A number of students will have left for what, by most, would be considered positive reasons - to take up a place at another college or higher education institution or to start a job. Every year a number of students who gain employment return to Fife College to undertake a Modern Apprenticeship (funded by their employer) or to continue their studies in a part time capacity.
  • 2

    Further Withdrawal

    This indicates that the student attended after the funding qualifying date but withdrew from their course prior to its planned end date. Again, positive reasons for withdrawal include gaining employment.
  • 3

    Completed: Partial Success

    This indicates that the student completed their course but did not gain the target qualification aim. It is generally accepted that the student will have gained some benefit from completing their course and may be satisfied with the attainment achieved as it can support progression for the student to a positive destination. For example, they may enrol to study three Highers but then receive a conditional offer from a university based on passing just two Highers. In that scenario the student may decide to withdraw from one of the Highers to concentrate on passing the two required for entry to their university course.
  • 4

    Completed: Successful

    This indicates that the student has completed their course and has achieved the qualification aim for their course. Note that if the student was on a course of more than one year and was not in the final year they will have progressed to the next year of study and achieved at least 70% of the units studied in the current year.

Reports

Performance indicators reports