Top marks for city college at centre of staff dispute

TELFORD College has received a glowing HMIE report from inspectors, dominated by good and very good ratings.

Lecturers are currently on strike at the college because of a deal with the agency Protocol National over the employment of temporary staff.

However, the inspectors found the educational leadership, direction and management of the college to be very good.

Special praise was also reserved for the resources at the college, and its attempts to be inclusive.

Students are concerned about the impact the strike action will have on their education, and the pressure is on management to resolve the dispute with the EIS, Scotland's largest teaching union.

However, the inspectors were pleased with the leadership and management of the college.

College principal Ray Harris said: "I was particularly pleased that the inspectors highlighted the learning and teaching at the college, as well as the effective leadership of my senior management team and board, and our high quality learning environment.

"Put together with their confirmation of our commitment to the local community and the success of our learners, I feel confident that we are achieving our mission to 'change lives through learning'."