Franklin College has been judged as “inadequate” by Ofsted under new pilot inspection guidelines.

The sixth form college in Grimsby, which received a grade 2 in 2008, has been criticised for “not driving improvements with urgency”.

An inspection report published by Ofsted yesterday says the leadership and management of the college requires improvement, and that strategic priorities need to be communicated more effectively to staff.

The inspection also found that the success rates for students on AS level courses is “consistently and significantly” below the national average.

“Since the last inspection there has been no trend of improvement in poor success rates in AS level and on intermediate courses,” the report reads.

Under the new framework Ofsted say too many courses at the college have poor retention rates, although it admits that in the current year “retention rates have improved.”

The report says “too much teaching remains satisfactory” at Franklin College, and also criticises “inconsistencies” in the assessment of students’ work.

“Pace and challenge are not sufficient to enhance learning and promote better and ambitious outcomes,” the report reads.

“While there is good and better teaching practice, mechanisms to disseminate this and enhance the skills of all teachers are underdeveloped.”

It later says teachers at the college are not providing enough “stimulating work” for students to complete outside of class.

However, the inspection report also praises the college for improving the range of courses which they offer.

“The college has begun to diversify its curriculum and has improved how students are placed on appropriate programmes,” the report reads.

“The number of vocational qualifications is beginning to increase (and) the drive to improve collaborations with local schools and the local general further education college is helping to shape the new curriculum to the benefit of students.”

Stafford College has been rated “inadequate” in a recent Ofsted inspection.

The college, which received a grade 2 in 2009, is said to have “uninspiring” lessons which are not planned properly and fail to challenge learners.

“Teachers know their subjects well but the quality of lessons across the college varies too much,” the report reads.

“Inspectors found good teaching and learning in over half the lessons observed but too much (of) that was satisfactory and did not challenge learners enough to reach their full potential.”

The inspection report by Ofsted, published last week, says the college’s success rates have been in decline and are particularly low for learners on advanced courses.

“Learners on AS-level courses have very low success rates and only half of those who complete progress to A levels,” the report reads.

“Nearly a third of those starting two-year advanced vocational courses do not complete the programme.”

However, the report later says the success rates for apprentices are “at a satisfactory level.”

Ofsted has admitted the college is starting to tackle low levels of retention, with in-year data showing “some improvement”.

“Most learners make satisfactory progress and their progression within the college is good,” it reads.

The inspection report blames the leadership and management at the college for the decline in success rates.

“They have not applied quality assurance arrangements consistently across all provision to ensure improvement,” the report reads.

“This is particularly so for AS and A-level provision where the college’s quality improvement arrangements within the collegiate have not halted the decline in AS-level success rates.”

It also says the college’s development plan is “insufficiently rigorous”, despite including appropriate targets for recruitment and financial performance.

The report states: “It does not have targets for success for the college as a whole and does not include an action plan to manage and measure progress towards meeting targets.”

However, Ofsted has also praised the college’s delivery of hairdressing and beauty therapy.

The report says the success rate on intermediate hairdressing is “well above (the) national average”, and the retention rate on intermediate beauty therapy has increased “markedly.”

“Learners develop good vocational and employability skills including teamwork, communication and client care,” the report reads.

“Most foundation learners develop very good creative skills in nail art.”

The new interim chief executive of the Skills Funding Agency (SFA) will be announced later today.

The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) say the appointment will be revealed at midday “once staff have been told.”

FE Week understands that Verity Bullough, Kim Thorneywork and Marinos Paphitis are the shortlisted candidates.

Geoff Russell, the current chief executive of the SFA, announced his decision to step down in January after informing the Agency last August.

(Note: Refresh this page at midday for full details of the announcement.)