TAVISTOCK College has been given a 'notice to improve' by Ofsted inspectors, in a critical report which says it is 'performing significantly less well' than it should be — despite a huge leap in exam results last year.

The grading is one step below being placed into 'special measures' — but the college principal has challenged the findings, claiming vital data, missing at the time of the inspection, would have lifted the report's most important findings by a grade.

Ofsted inspectors visited the college in December and graded its overall effectiveness, and its achievements and standards, as 'inadequate'.

Personal development and well-being, quality of provision, curriculum and other activities, care, guidance and support, and leadership and management, were graded 'satisfactory'.

But the report does record many positive achievements — there was a big rise in results at GCSE last year and the strongest ever results recorded by sixth form students and an improvement in the balance of the curriculum.

Since the inspection, Tavistock College has received a national award from the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust in recognition of its results improvements, and figures published in January revealed its sixth form performance was now rated within the top 15% in the country.

The inspectors found students enjoyed a 'very broad' range of extra-curricular activities and clubs and generally, teachers and senior leaders worked hard to ensure the college met the needs of the students.

However, there were concerns regarding under-achievements by male students, monitoring of students' performance — and of their behaviour.

The report stated: 'Intervention strategies are not sharply focused and lack the rigour to improve rates of progress. This is particularly the case in monitoring the progress made by boys and girls of different ability, looked after children and those with learning difficulties and/or disabilities.'

'Inspectors found an unusually high level of dissatisfaction amongst parents regarding behaviour of students. Some staff, at all levels, also expressed concerns — it is clear these must be addressed as a priority.'

The inspectors said that 'clear direction' had been given by college principal Colin Eves, who had taken 'decisive action' to improve curriculum provision. However, persistent problems at senior management level, including prolonged absences, had created instability which had affected all parts of the college, they said.

The report stated college governance was satisfactory and praised the new chair, Mandy Govier, as being 'determined and committed to improvement across the college'.

'She has a clear understanding of its strengths and weaknesses, particularly the challenge of improving progress made by groups of students.'­

Mr Eves said at the time of the inspection, he was not aware that results of 12 students who attended further education colleges one day a week were missing from data considered by Ofsted.

Mr Eves said: 'I am astounded that these results could have made such a difference.

'I am happy to be criticised for not knowing these results were missing, but I feel disappointed that the huge improvements that are evident in the league tables have not been recognised.

'There isn't one measured outcome that doesn't show strong performance from the collage. The valid criticisms in the report we were aware of, we accept them and we are working on them. We are taking strong and decisive action and we will continue to do so.'

Mr Eves said there was a perception regarding bad behaviour at the college, yet inspectors found behaviour was satisfactory.

He said: 'People have high expectations of good behaviour and I will never be satisfied because we always want standards to be getting better, but work is being done that has brought about improvements and further work is planned.'

Of criticism aimed at the college's senior management team, Mr Eves said: 'Myself and the governors have been working to ensure that the college has stable and effective leadership, and are satisfied that this will be achieved in the near future.'

The college is due to be re-visited by Ofsted in 12 to 16 months' time.

Mr Eves said: 'I am expecting a hugely positive outcome. Our forecasts for this summer are almost identical to last year and when they come back, I hope they will give a fair and accurate reflection of the college's performance.

'You don't achieve improvements like ours by not doing the right thing, by not effectively using data, and it doesn't happen if students are poorly behaved, because we are talking about very, very substantial improvements.'

Mrs Govier said: 'We have so much potential in this school — come to any musical production, any drama production and you'd be amazed.

'As chair of governors and as a parent, I am disappointed the college has been given notice to improve, but this is going to focus the mind. We have a set time-frame in which we have to put right the points raised by the inspection and some policies have already been implemented.

'I want parents to be proud they are sending their children to Tavistock College, I want people to be queueing at our doors because of what we can offer them — we are duty bound to get it right because, realistically, parents in this area don't really have much other choice of secondary education for their children.'

Mrs Govier said the college had 'a very robust governing body' which was being given extra training to help it monitor the school's progress.

The school is holding a consultation evening for parents today (Thursday) at 7pm in the main hall, at which the Ofsted report will be discussed.