A WORCESTER college has bounced back to be recognised as a "good" provider by Ofsted after receiving a "requires improvement"rating in 2016.

Heart of Worcestershire College received the Ofsted report last week, receiving a "good" rating in all categories.

The report said: "Senior leaders and governors have successfully tackled the most significant areas for improvement identified at the previous inspection.

"Leaders have established strong links with employers and key strategic partners to develop a curriculum that contributes fully to the region’s employment skills needs, enabling learners and apprentices to develop good vocational and work-related skills.

"Teaching, learning and assessment are good; teachers and assessors use their subject knowledge and industry expertise well to ensure that learners and apprentices develop their practical, technical and academic skills well.

"Learners benefit from good resources and facilities, teachers make effective use of information learning technology (ILT) to engage and motivate learners.

"Since the previous inspection, the proportion of learners who successfully gain their qualifications has improved; the majority of apprentices achieve their qualifications in the planned timescale.

"A high proportion of learners on level 3 programmes go on to higher education."

Speaking about the good rating, principal and chief executive of the college, Stuart Laverick said: “We are pleased with the result of this Ofsted inspection. The grading is a great testament to the excellent work we see from staff and students every day.

"We are extremely proud that Ofsted have recognised the hard-work and improvements made by the College and have confirmed our own self-assessment rating as a "good" college.

"We look forward to continuing with the college’s work in what promises to be a positive and bright future.”

To improve further, the report said: "The targets set for learners studying at level 3 and the feedback that they receive from teachers are not always precise enough to ensure that they know how to improve or achieve in line with their identified potential.

"Learners’ attendance is not yet consistently good across all parts of the college.

"Many more learners now achieve a better standard of English and mathematics as a result of their studies; however, too few learners achieve their functional skills in English and mathematics at level 2, or achieve high grades in GCSE mathematics."

The full Ofsted report is now available via http://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/