Basildon College leaders today defended their record after official figures ranked it as one of the worst of its kind in England.

Just over a third of students successfully completed their course in 1997-98 - the joint second worst figure in the country for a further Education college.

College principal Chris Chapman said the figures did not reflect last year's re-launch which saw 24 staff drafted in to tackle the rot.

He claimed figures for 2000 would show a "significant improvement".

Other south Essex colleges fared better. Ninety-six per cent of Palmers College students in Grays successfully completed their courses - one of the best tallies in the country - with South East Essex College, Southend, also in the top ten.

The figures come from the Further Education Funding Council, an independent body which monitors funding in England's 432 colleges and sixth forms.

The average qualification achievement rate for colleges during 1997-98 was 75 per cent.

Basildon was well below the grade, with just 36 per cent of students successfully completing their courses.

The college re-launched itself as the New Basildon College before the start of the autumn term in 1998 with new principal Chris Chapman at the helm.

He said: "The figures are for 1997 and 1998, the last year of the old structure. The new college started in 1998 and we expect to see significant improvements in July 2000 and 2001.

"The college is now the New Basildon College and is a different place to what it was."

The college has introduced £1,000 scholarships for able students, while all pupils are offered a £100 incentive to attend 90 per cent of lessons.

Nearly £300,000 has also been ploughed into a hair and beauty suite and £110,000 on IT equipment.

Mr Chapman said: "It has taken a year to turn the college around but it's our intention to build a college we are proud of."

Seventy-four per cent of students at Benfleet's South East Essex Sixth Form College successfully completed their courses, with 85 per cent of pupils at the South East Essex College in Southend and 71 per cent of students at Thurrock College also making the grade.

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