INSPECTORS have declared that Bournemouth and Poole College needs to make improvements following a recent visit.

The results of the provisional Ofsted inspection have been circulated to staff although the report itself has yet to be published.

Principal Diane Grannell has written to staff and said they must “work together positively and constructively to effect the necessary improvements in the provision we make to our students.”

The letter, seen by the Daily Echo, reveals that the 'overall effectiveness' of the college has been given a grade three, which means it requires improvement.

The same grade has also been given to 'effectiveness of leadership and management', 'quality of teaching, learning and assessment', 'personal development, behaviour and welfare' and 'outcomes for learners'.

Adult learning programmes, apprenticeships and provision for learners with high needs were give a grade two, meaning 'good'.

Mrs Grannell told staff: “I’m sure you will feel disappointed by these judgements and will want to hear more about them.”

She said feedback sessions will be arranged and the Ofsted report will also be covered in staff briefings.

She added: “It would be easy to focus only on the judgements themselves but the inspectors identified many strengths and positives that we should be proud of.

“However, clearly they also identified a number of areas that we now need to improve more rapidly than has been the case to date.”

Mrs Grannell asked staff not to share the findings of the report outside the college. She stressed the results are provisional and have not yet been published by Ofsted.

Last week the Daily Echo reported on lecturers being made redundant at the college. Up to 30 jobs are thought to be affected and the college blamed a six-year funding freeze for the cuts.

A spokesman for the college confirmed Ofsted visited last week but added: “Until we get the formal report everything is provisional and we are not allowed to comment.”