PALMER’S college has gone from being an “outstanding” college to one needing improvement.

The latest report from education watchdog Ofsted has come as a hammer blow to the 300-year-old college, which caters for 2,000-plus pupils.

During the four-day visit in mid-October, inspectors found:

*College leaders have not maintained outstanding standards and the governing body had failed to question senior leaders about reasons for the decline in the college’s overall educational performance.

*Science study programmes are “inadequate”, with the quality of teaching and learning tying in with a decline in results achieved by pupils.

*All other subject areas at the college, including visual arts and media, English and modern foreigh languages and business management and accounting, “require improvement”

*Not all students develop their maths and English skills as well as they could.

Principal Mark Vinall told the Gazette he accepts the report’s findings - and is determined to make the necessary improvements.

He said: “We agree with the report.

“It mirrors our self-assessment and gives us the blueprint for success going forward.

“Our commitment to relentless improvement on behalf of our learners will continue and the feedback from Ofsted is a welcome contribution to this process.”

The last Ofsted report was in 2007.

The report did note that over the last year, there have been signs of improvement, but that it is too early to guage their effectiveness.

But it says outcomes for students, the quality of teaching, learning and assessment and the effectiveness of the school’s leadership all require improvement.

Mr Vinall added: “Palmer’s is a great college. Our students love being here and we are committed to improving everything we do.

“The inspection compared us to other high performing sixth form colleges and we feel there is much more we can do especially in the area of responding to the needs of learners.”

Mr Vinall said the college would be adopting all of the recommendations for improvement offered by Ofsted, many of which focus on teachers adapting better to the needs of pupils.

The report also recommends the governing body scrutinised the college more and quick improvements are made in the way science subjects.