SWINDON’S New College is celebrating after it was found to be one of the country’s top colleges for improvement in maths.

Experts at the education watchdog the Department for Education listed the Queen’s Drive facility in the top five colleges in the nation for improvement in the subject.

New College has introduced a number of initiatives aimed at boosting maths performance, including setting up an English and Maths Hub and bringing in intensive holiday courses for struggling students.

The progress measure looks at students who enter college without a grade C in GCSE maths and tracks their improvement in the subject.

Amanda Spanswick, faculty manager for Maths, English, Languages and Science said she was delighted with the progress that had been made.

She said:“It is down to the fantastically hard-working staff and all the work they do to help the students be the best they can be

“It is also down to the hardwork of the students themselves who are determined to do their best.

“I am very proud of the staff, the students and the progress the college has made. I am also really proud of the college’s maths department. for the quality of work that is produced.”

In the academic year 2015/16 43.8 per cent of New College students overall got an A* to C grade.

Amanda said the college focused on emotionally preparing the students, as well as academically, for the exam.

She said: “A lot of people when they enter college and prepare to take an exam in a difficult subject such as maths can feel anxiety around the subject.

“They can feel very nervous and unsure as to what to expect.

“We work with students to help them overcome that anxiety and the impact it can have on them.

“So I would say a lot of the work we do is removing the fear around the subject

“We hold mock exams which are exactly like the exam conditions they will see in the summer It’s to give them that authentic exam experience and help them prepare for the pressure they will face when they go in to take the GCSE.

“For anyone who is concerned we also have exam revision sessions during the holidays for school students to help them do their best and prepare for the exam environment.”

This summer, New College has around 600 students gearing themselves up to take their GCSE exams in maths.