A SCHOOLS commissioner has visited West Somerset College after its poor GCSE results this summer.

Sir David Carter, Regional Schools Commissioner for the South-West, who visited the college last Friday, makes decisions about academies and free schools, including taking action if they under-perform.

His office confirmed that he visied principal Gaynor Comber to discuss recent GCSE grades.

The college failed to meet the Government’s 40% target for pupils achieving five or more A*-C grades this summer – only 38% did so.

Angry parents set up a petition on Change.org calling for Ofsted to step in and Mrs Comber to go.

Their group – the West Somerset GCSE Debate Campaign Group – presented the pettion, which has 465 signatures, to the principal with 21 pages of comments from pupils past and present, parents and concerned local people dissatisfied with the school’s response so far and contacted Sir David to visit.

Group member Steve Beavers said: “To be blunt we want Ofsted to step in and take a good look at the management of the college.

“The college has a monopoly in the area – some children have no choice but to go here and this is our major concern.”

Another group member who requested anonymity said: “The petition, comments and other further paperwork have been presented to the Secretary of the Board of Governors, the EFA, Ofsted and Sir David’s office.

"Ofsted is due to visit the school shortly and parents are planning a peaceful protest there on October 13."

No one from the school was prepared to comment.