College is facing closure

Jan 14 2008

ONE of Birmingham's biggest colleges may be forced to close after being labelled as "failing" in a damning Ofsted report.

City College has been given one year to shape up after gaining the worst grade possible in four categories measuring educational provision.

Ofsted's condemnation of the college as "inadequate", following an inspection in November, conflicted dramatically with its own "good" assessment of its performance.

The board of governors has accepted the resignation of principal Tony Henry, who offered to step down before Christmas before the publication of the report.

The college's deputy Peter Har-wood has been installed as acting principal, with responsibility for its 23,000 students, until a permanent replacement is found.

Mr Harwood said: "The inspection was extremely critical of the college and although it is a difficult time for staff, students and management, we have accepted the judgments of Ofsted and are committed to a process of improvement.

"The college was already addressing many of the areas of weakness identified in the report and recognised the need for fundamental change."