A BLACK Country college principal says there’s “much to be proud of” despite being told to make improvements after latest Ofsted findings.

The education regulator handed Birmingham Metropolitan College, which has campuses in Stourbridge and Brierley Hill, a ‘requires improvement’ rating after its latest inspection shortly after a raft of redundancies were announced.

The report highlighted a variety of strengths including outstanding teaching and learning for engineering, good provision for popular subjects such as sport and art and design, excellent links with employers and partners, and sustained efforts to get unemployed adults back into work.

But Ofsted reduced the college’s rating from ‘good’ and its outcomes for learners, the quality of teaching, learning and assessment, and the effectiveness of leadership and management, were all listed as requiring improvement.

The report said improvements were needed to ensure English and maths students and apprentices achieve their qualifications; and the college was told it could make better use of technology in the classroom and workshop.

The report also said few learners complete work experience or other activities to improve understanding of how vocational skills are applied in the workplace and tutors don't make enough use of targets to help learners to achieve their potential.

Principal Andrew Cleaves said: “The Ofsted findings are absolutely in line with our own assessment of where we are and support our plans to continue to improve outcomes for our students.

“Staff and students have much to be proud of at BMet There’s a way to go but we are heading in the right direction. We remain a strong organisation delivering education and training to local communities and regional businesses, building the skills needed for future prosperity.”

The college recently confirmed around 200 posts were to be lost through voluntary redundancies in a bid to save cash. Around 50 compulsory job losses were also needed but final numbers affected have not yet been confirmed.