MPs' crunch meeting on poor college

A report by education watchdog Ofsted catalogued a string of problems with the Waterside-based Doncaster College - describing it as “inadequate” and sparking concerns from politicians.

Now further education minister Bill Rammell has invited borough MPs Rosie Winterton, Caroline Flint, Ed Miliband and Jeff Ennis to discuss the situation at the organisation’s new modern 66 million headquarters.

Ms Winterton said: “I am obviously very concerned about the findings of the recent inspection and I want to see speedy progress from the action plan set out for recovery.”

Meetings are offered as a matter of routine by the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills after poor Ofsted reports, says the Government.

Mr Miliband said he was also concerned about the recent Ofsted and confirmed he would attend the meeting, while Ms Flint is liaising with the other Doncaster MPs.

The report last month stated the effectiveness of provision, achievements and standards and capacity for improvement all do not come up to scratch. The college’s management was singled out for particular criticism within the document, with inspectors saying there have been four principals in the last four years - which they said had hampered the college’s development.

They also noted that governors had made a compensation payment to “a senior post holder whose performance they judged to be unsatisfactory”.

Chairwoman of governors Joanne Outram and another governor resigned in June. The report, based on an inspection between June 11 and 15, said: “The effectiveness of provision at Doncaster College is inadequate.”

But the quality of accommodation offered to students and the Hub's IT resources and health, care and public services courses were singled out as being good in the report.