A college has been cleared of any wrong-doing following allegations it had tampered with students’ grades prior to an inspection by Ofsted.

Two weeks ago this paper reported that the Skills Funding Agency (SFA) was conducting an investigation into ‘allegations of data manipulation’ at Barnfield College.

The SFA has since said: “We have now received the findings of the college’s independent audit into allegations relating to data manipulation at Barnfield College and are satisfied with the conclusion that there is no evidence to substantiate these allegations.”

Barnfield College, which has campuses in New Bedford Road, Enterprise Way and York Street in Luton, was downgraded from ‘oustanding’ to ‘satisfactory’ in the latest Ofsted inspection, which started on April 23.

During the investigation a spokeswoman for the college had said: “This claim is totally unfounded and we are working in partnership with the SFA to investigate the individual responsible for deliberately creating this fictitious and wholly inaccurate story – it undermines the great work and achievements of our students and staff.

“It is a real shame that one individual can create such a stir.”