WEST Somerset College staff have been told that progress to turn round the performance at the ailing college is “too slow”.

But inspectors have rubber-stamped the school management team’s action plan, agreeing it is ‘fit for progress’.

The college was visited on December 17 by Jim Sage, one of Her Majesty’s Inspectors.

He has been allocated to the college following an Ofsted inspection in October that put the school into special measures.

In a letter to Gaynor Comber, principal, Mr Sage said: “While senior leaders and governors have identified what needs to be done, there has been a lack of urgency in taking key actions.”

He identified key areas that needed to be dealt with quickly, including addressing student behaviour and meeting targets to increase student attendance. 

A statement released by the college said that the issues highlighted to teachers and governors by Mr Sage has “made it clear” what issues they need to deal with as a “matter of urgency”.

The inspection was the first monitoring inspection since the college was put into special measures.

The college underwent an Ofsted inspection in September after a number of parents complained about GCSE grades not meeting government targets.

A ‘West Somerset College Raising Standards Discussion’ group was set up on Facebook by parents and members of the public to share ideas about how to improve the college.

Paul Davies, a member of the group, said that he was “surprised” that the college was not making progress fast enough, and Christine Morris said the college has had “time once again to put new thoughts into place, but [still] nothing”.

Despite a lack of confidence voiced by some parents, Mr Sage stated that he believes the current governing body is capable of bringing out the improvements, but he did acknowledge that it needs “external support” to help make this happen.

MP for Bridgwater and West Somerset Ian Liddell-Grainger is positive about the future of the college.

He said: “I’ve been meeting with the school and Sir David Carter [the regional schools commissioner for south-west England] and we are working on ensuring that parents remain in the loop about things at the school and we are hoping to restore the confidence for other schools in the area.”

ALL of the documents can be found on the West Somerset College website.