Suffolk New College leaders hail new figures showing more than 93% of students found work or continued in education last year

More than 93% of students who completed courses at Suffolk New College last year found a job or carried on in education, new figures reveal.

It is the fifth year in a row the numbers have reached these levels at the Ipswich college – with 677 of the 2,160 learners who finished courses last year going into employment or volunteer-based roles.

More than 1,000 students continued in further education and 330 went off to higher education courses.

Dave Muller, principal of the college, said: “For the fifth year running over 93% of our students have gone on to higher education, further education or into employment.

“This is a great achievement for the young people of Ipswich and south Suffolk and highlights the on-going commitment of our staff.”

The statistics were pleasing for the 103 A-level students who finished last year – with more than 80% of them continuing in education.

A total of 38% of construction and engineering students found work after their 2013/14 courses finished, a figure down when compared to learners in health and social care where 51% were employed.

A total of 270 students on the construction and engineering courses carried on their education at colleges or in apprenticeships.

Almost 35% of creative arts students went on to higher education and 89 learners found employment.

More than 160 students on commercial services courses went into work and 222 in further education.