PROGRESS at West Somerset College is still “far too slow”, according to inspectors.

The news comes in a report by Ofsted after the second of five visits from one of Her Majesty’s Inspectors.

The report by Jim Sage, of HMI, concluded: “The college is not making enough progress towards the removal of special measures.”

Two particular improvements highlighted required to be dealt “with the utmost urgency”:

  • Eradicate the weaknesses in the leadership of the college.
  • Ensure school leaders make much more rapid progress.

Another point highlighted by the report is: “The principal and senior leaders do not have the capacity to improve the college rapidly enough.”

The report comes amid speculation that principal Mrs Gaynor Comber is no longer in the post of principal.

A spokesman from the college said: “I can confirm that Mrs Comber is off sick at the moment and we cannot go in to personal details.”

The report also acknowledges that the college is in the early stages of becoming a sponsored academy by the Bridgwater College Trust, which was supported at a governors’ meeting on Monday where they voted “to pursue negotiations” with the Trust.

BCT already sponsors Bridgwater College Academy – rated ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted – Hamp Academy and Brymore Academy.

A statement released by the governing body at the college said: “Governors also considered the latest monitoring report from Ofsted, which helped confirm them in their view that additional senior leadership capacity is essential if the weaknesses in the leadership of the college are to be addressed.

“Bridgwater College Academy has agreed to provide this on an interim basis while the details of West Somerset College’s future relationship with them are worked out.”

A spokesman for the Bridgwater Academy Trust said that it is “far too early” to speculate what sponsorship might mean to the current leadership at the college.

She said: “There’s a due diligence process which will last four to six weeks before anything goes ahead.

“It’s a lengthy process – in context, of course, because we have to consider the best possible outcome for the children.

“It’s far too early to say if anything has happened with regard to governors and teachers.”

Areas of improvement highlighted by the report include:

  •  Poor behaviour from students.
  • Increase students’ attendance levels to be at least in line with the national average
  • Raise achievement across the college, particularly in English and maths.

Jim Sage was accompanied by two other Ofsted inspectors, Gill Carter and Iain Freeland, and the inspection was carried out over two days on March 3-4.

The inspection was the second monitoring inspection since the college became subject to special measures after an inspection in October, 2014.

Because the school is an Academy it is independent of the local authority, but a spokesman for Somerset County Council said: “We are aware of the challenges West Somerset College is facing.

“As champion of all Somerset children we welcome the new sponsorship arrangements and expect them to drive the very necessary improvements as quickly as possible.

“We look forward to seeing rapid and sustained progress for the benefit of children and families.