Hartlepool Sixth Form College has crashed from a good to inadequate Ofsted rating.
It received a grade two rating in June 2010, but a report published on Thursday (November 13), based on an inspection in September, gave it the lowest possible mark.
The report said “too few students stay to complete AS courses or progress from AS to A-level,” adding “leadership and management are inadequate”.
It recognised that there had been a “period of instability at senior level” and the 1,000–learner college’s new leadership team, including principal Alex Fau-Goodwin, only took over in September.
Rick Wells, who had been principal since 2005, stood down in August last year. Carole Horseman was acting principal until the end of last academic year.
Mr Fau-Goodwin said: “The new team are very clear about the improvements that need to be introduced.”
The principal Alex Fau-Goodwin, ‘only took over in September’. He was introduced to the public via The Hartlepool Mail sixth months before he officially took the reins. He was there to ensure a ‘smooth transition’. What went wrong? Is six months not enough time to ensure that you do not end up with the lowest possible grade?
Concerned.