TEACHERS have been blamed for an inadequate Ofsted report for a diverse college that supports thousands of students.

Stanmore College, in Elm Park, Stanmore, has been slated by a recent Ofsted report published on November 9 that rated that college, which almost 2,000 students, as inadequate.

The most recent inspection held between September 22 and 25 criticises the college and its staff for failing to intervene and “bring about rapid improvement”.

But staff say the school have brought together an urgent action plan in a bid to return the school to a ‘good’ status.

Jacqui Mace, Principal of Stanmore College, said: “We are very disappointed by the grade given to Stanmore College by Ofsted following the recent inspection.

“Although our success rate is five per cent higher this year than last, and more than eight per cent higher for young people at level 3, the inspectors did not feel that it had risen quickly enough towards the national rate.

“The college is proud of its record in many areas. For example, last year 16 A level subjects achieved 100 per cent pass rates, there were 64 triple distinction starred grades in our vocational programmes and more than 450 of our students, mostly on vocational programmes, progressed to university.

“We provide a safe, diverse and equal environment for all our students and a wide range of enriching activities and we are pleased that this is praised in the report”

The report praised the school for its “good” welfare support system that helps learners to “overcome the personal difficulties that they face in their everyday lives”.

But it also says that teachers have an “unrealistic” view of the quality of teaching because their evaluation “focuses on what teachers do in lessons rather than on the progress that learners make”.

The report added: “The majority of teachers do not challenge learners to make the progress of which they are capable; too many lessons are dull and therefore do not capture learners’ imagination.

“Teachers do not ensure that all learners have challenging targets that help them to improve or develop their skills.”

Governors and the head were also criticised for not taking “swift and decisive action” following a previous inspection in 2014 which found the school required improvement, adding that “consequently the quality of provision has declined further”.

Mrs Mace said: “College managers acknowledge and accept the issues Ofsted has raised. “Since the March 2014 inspection there has been a complete restructure and a wholesale focus on improving teaching and learning but the inspection came too early in the academic year to see the full impact of all of the changes that the college has worked hard to put in place.

“In accepting the judgements of Ofsted the whole college is working hard to address the key findings through a rapid improvement action plan.

“This builds on the many interventions we have already put in such as imposing strict standards on attendance and punctuality, strengthening the English and maths team and providing extensive professional development for teachers.

“Stanmore College is determined that its students’ progress to higher education or good jobs with development opportunities and to gain fulfilment from their lives and it will do everything it can to achieve these aims.”