Joy for Wolverhampton College after glowing inspection

The City of Wolverhampton College has been given a glowing report by government education officials following an amazing turnaround — just over two years after it was panned in a scathing Ofsted inspection.

Further Education Commissioner David Collins paid tribute to the transformation which had taken place at the college since new principal Mark Robertson took over in May last year.

Mr Collins said the college had repositioned itself as 'part of the fabric of the city', and had won great praise from employers for the quality of the training it provided.

So high were the standards that one employer transferred its apprentices from a neighbouring institution, said Mr Collins, who carried out his assessment in May this year.

He praised Mr Robertson for his work to improve standards.

"The new principal has accelerated the pace of change, driving the college forward on the twin fronts of quality improvement and resource efficiency," said Mr Collins.

Last month the Express & Star exclusively revealed that the college was now looking to build a new multi-million pound campus in the city to replace its present 1960s base in Paget Road.

Mr Robertson said he was thrilled by the report FE Commissioner's report, and said his long-term hope was to get the college an 'outstanding' rating from Ofsted inspectors.

He added that the college had now been shortlisted for the Association of Colleges prestigious Beacon Award for its work with employers.

"We have worked hard to build up relationships with employers," he said.

"Our role is to give them not just the qualifications, but also the practical skills to get a job."

Mr Collins recommended that the college should continue to increase its business expertise, and that Mr Robertson and his team should be supported in the changes they have made.

He said that a further assessment should be carried out later this year to review progress.

The assessment was carried out at the request of former Minister for Skills and Enterprise Matthew Hancock following a scathing Ofsted inspection in 2012. At the time, the college was rated as "inadequate" by Ofsted, the worst rating that can be given.

The college was told too many students were dropping out and others failed to achieve their full potential, and that success rates were found to be 'below or well below national averages'.

However, Mr Collins said the college had made great strides, adding that it had been praised by the Department of Work and Pensions for its work with outside organisations.

"Overall there was a feeling that the college was in a very different place as compared to where it was two years ago," he said.