COLLEGE leaders scored an important victory this week, forcing the government to make a significant change in the reporting of exam league tables.

Last month the Association of Colleges claimed that there would be huge recruitment problems next year because the tables would distort students’ true academic performance.

Colleges have been exhorted to mix and match, and also told to bridge the divide between academic and vocational courses. But institutions that encourage students to take one A-level with their vocational course would be penalised if the single results were counted in with the scores of students taking several A levels. This would depress the college’s average points score.

The Department for Education and Skills has responded to the colleges’ concerns.The tables now show combined A level, AS and Advanced GNVQ point scores. “As a result of this significant change only the combined point score will give a complete picture of school and college achievement, particularly for schools and colleges where students study an A level or AS alongside an Advanced GNVQ,” the department said this week.

At this stage only the combined data will be released. However, more detailed data broken down into single columns will be in the full tables placed on the DFES website on November 22.

Judith Norrington, AOC director of curriculum and quality said: “We welcome this change of heart by the department. This development will properly reflect what colleges have achieved.

“Next year we hope they will listen to us in advance so things will not be changed at the eleventh hour.”

Paul Mackney, general secretary of lecturers’ union NATFHE, said that performance tables were notoriously bad for measuring the added value teachers in FE colleges bring to their students, who have often been educationally disadvantaged in the past.

“Even though they don’t compare like with like,” he said, “the tables are starting to reflect the daily miracles performed by FE teachers. They are working flat out to raise standards and will be key to delivering the government targets for students progressing to higher education.”

Colleges educate 500,000 16-19 year olds, compared with 400,000 in schools.