FORMER governors and managers at scandal-hit Halton College were slammed by government inspectors this week for failing to do their job properly.

They were reprimanded with a score of five, the lowest mark possible in an FEFC inspection report, published today.

Lecturers were praised for achieving above average marks, working in such difficult circumstances.

Red-faced ex governors confessed earlier this year they had been kept in the dark about some of the lavish foreign trips of former principal Martin Jenkins and Jenny Dolphin.

Britain's highest paid college chiefs - on salaries of £200,000 between them - spent almost a year jetting round the world at taxpayer's expense.

The pair resigned on ill health grounds in April, hours after two damning government reports exposed their junkets. The governors resigned in July.

The cash-stricken college was forced to axe 114 jobs - one-third of the staff- as the government clawed back more than £10 million.

Halton College this week welcomed the FEFC inspection findings and is now preparing a detailed action plan to address the weaknesses and problems which have been highlighted.

A new board of governors, made up of experienced leaders from commerce and education has been selected by the secretary of state.

A new principal, Ian Clinton, current head of Joseph Priestly College in Leeds was appointed this week, to start in February.

Speaking exclusively to the World this week acting principal Peter Cavanagh said:"To be brutally honest, it is not surprising that governance was given a grade five.

"The main thing now is with the appointment of a new board and a new principal, we are looking forward with optimism to the future.

"It is pleasing that three of our curriculum areas came out so strong despite recent difficulties.

"We want to reassure people that Halton College is re-positioning itself to focus on the needs of the local community and build on its strengths.

"We have got some work to do, we're not trying to hide anything. We now need to look closely at the weaknesses which have been identified. The report can now be used by the new principal and the board to prepare an action plan."

Tony Thompson, professional officer of PAT union, the Professional Association of Teachers, said:"This confirms what we have been saying all along. The problem was with the governors and management of the college. They made bad and wrong decisions.

"The staff really do need congratulating for their good work in difficult circumstances. They came up with really excellent results.There is expertise and quality there.

"It is the job of the new governors and management to build on these strengths, the signs are promising. It's just a tragedy for Widnes and Runcorn, staff and the students that so many people lost their jobs and livelihoods because of the sins of others."

THE FEFC inspection results published today are revealed exclusively in this week's World.

Seven curriculum areas were scrutinised and marked on a one to five score, one being the best.

Three departments - engineering, catering and hospitality and english and modern languages - scored grade two.

Horticulture and business and administration were awarded grade three.

Health and care and computing and information technology were given grade four.

A very high staff turnover, lack of middle management and too many inexperienced staff were blamed for this less than satisfactory score.

Results in the cross college areas were: governance (five), management (four), quality assurance (four), general resources (three) and support for students (three).

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