BOSSES at a North-East further education college have been told they must improve their performance after a slump in exam results.

Following an inspection by a team from Ofsted, Hartlepool College of Further Education was given an overall mark of "requires improvement".

This mark compares with a rating of "good" when it was last inspected in November 2009.

The inspectors complained that the overall quality of teaching, learning and assessment is not high enough, too many students leave courses early without completing qualifications and GCSE England and maths grades are too low.

However, the Ofsted team acknowledged that the college principal, Michael Bretherick, has been "steering the college through a period of considerable change, including relocation to a new building, overcoming a significant financial deficit, implementing a revised management structure and revising the curriculum to meet the needs of the strategic plan."

Because of this, the students success rates "declined from previously high levels to below national averages in most subject areas," the inspectors added.

College vice-principal Darren Hankey said: "We have taken note of what Ofsted have told us and are confident that the report is a blip.

"Indeed Ofsted have already returned to college since the report as part of the support they offer us and they are satisfied with the improvements we are making."

The college, which has about 4,800 full and part-time students, recently introduced a new policy of texting missing students and their parents in a bid to improve attendance records.

Ofsted also acknowledged strengths in apprentice training, good employer links and the excellence of the colleges facilities.