Inspectors have called for urgent improvements at Huntingdonshire Regional College (HRC) after a scathing report which rated the facility as “inadequate”.

In a report, published last week, Ofsted delivered a withering assessment, criticising the standard of leadership and said results for students had declined as a consequence of this.

In response, the college said it has introduced a new leadership team and will be taking immediate action to get the facility back on course as soon as possible. It has also promised to consult with staff and students about the planned improvements.

The news comes just a fort-night after the college announced it would be working in partner-ship with Cambridge Regional College (CRC) as part of a “new era” of collaboration.

The former principal of HRC, Susan Stent, stepped down from her post in October and the facility is now managed by CRC principal, Mark Robertson, and deputy principal, Alan Jones.

The college is home to 600 students, aged from 16-18, with 1,000 adult students. There are also 500 apprentices studying at the facility, in California Road.

Shane Langthorne, the lead Ofsted inspector, said in his report: “Teachers and assessors do not plan teaching, learning and assessment that challenges and inspires the majority of learners and apprentices to make the progress of which they are

capable.”

Mr Langthorne said too many students arrived late for lessons but were not challenged.

The report was also critical of the college’s leadership, noting: “Leaders and managers have been too slow to implement the improvements recommended following the previous two inspections.

“Governors do not scrutinise information and data provided to them sufficiently or challenge the senior management team.

“As a result, achievement has declined in too many subject areas, including for apprentices following business management, health and social care apprenticeships programmes and learners studying English and mathematics.”

In response to the report, Mark Robertson, the new college principal, said: “Everyone at HRC is keen to improve and to build on what the college already does well.

“The new partnership with Cambridge Regional College will support this improvement, and we are determined to create an outstanding organisation for our students and for the employers and communities that we serve.”