BIRMINGHAM Metropolitan College, which runs campuses in Stourbridge and Brierley Hill, has been told to make further improvements following its latest Ofsted report.

The college received a 'requires improvement' rating in 2015 after a making a raft of redundancies to help solve the organisation's financial woes.

But nearly two years on - following a return Ofsted inspection - the overall rating remains unchanged.

Inspectors acknowledged the college's financial position has stabilised in their report, published on March 16, but they were critical about the effectiveness of leadership and management at the college, the quality of teaching, learning and assessment plus outcomes for learners - saying all require improvement.

The college also scored poorly for personal development, behaviour and welfare - and its 16 to 19 study programme and adult learning programmes were also labelled as requiring improvement.

It was, however, awarded 'good' ratings for apprenticeships and its provision for learners with high needs.

But the scathing report stated: "Governors and senior managers have not tackled successfully three of the significant areas for improvement from the previous inspection.

"Managers’ actions to improve the performance of teachers have not had sufficient impact on improving the quality of teaching, learning and assessment."

The report says teachers do not provide sufficient challenge to learners and as a result 16 to 18-year-olds do not make sufficient progress in A-level, AS-level and vocational qualifications at level 3.

It adds that, despite recent changes, teachers do not develop learners’ English and mathematics skills well enough on mathematics and English GCSE courses for them to make sufficient progress.

The report also says learners' attendance and punctuality are too low on study programmes and as a result their progress is hampered.

It also highlights concerns that "a minority of learners and apprentices do not have a clear enough understanding of the dangers of extremism and radicalisation".

The college was, however, praised on a number of points.

Inspectors said in their report: "Governors and senior managers have an ambitious strategy for the college; this is based on an accurate assessment of the college’s strengths and weaknesses and has resulted in the stabilisation of the college’s financial position."

Credit was also given to senior managers for creating "a responsive and comprehensive curriculum which reflects the short and long-term needs of the regional economy and provides learners with clear ways to progress in their studies and to secure employment".

The report was also positive about apprentices - saying they "make good progress, improve their knowledge and skills and a high proportion complete their qualifications within planned timescales" and it adds: "Highly knowledgeable assessors provide effective support and target-setting, and as a result the standard of work is impressive.

Inspectors also noted learners develop good practical, personal and social skills and most learners build confidence - and learners with high needs develop their independence and benefit from support which enables them to progress successfully to achieve their targets.

Andrew Cleaves, principal and chief executive at BMet, said the report "acknowledged that the quality of teaching, learning and assessment at BMet has improved across the board since our previous inspection" but he added: "We are only part of the way through this journey and we acknowledge that there is much work to do.

“Whilst it has been a challenging time for BMet over the last two years, we have made good progress.

"We are particularly pleased that Ofsted rated our apprenticeship provision as being good. Our results improved by 12 per cent last year to above national average and this figure is set to further improve as we move forward.

“We have taken on board the findings and recommendations from the report and will follow the guidance of the inspection to continue with our plans, which are all heading in the right direction.

“BMet has high aspirations. With the continued hard work of our dedicated team of people, I am confident that we will meet the challenges ahead and will continue to provide excellent education for many thousands of learners in Birmingham and the Black Country.”