STAFF and students at a Southampton sixth-form college are celebrating after inspectors praised them.

Itchen College retained its “good” rating following an inspection by Ofsted in October.

Staff earned extra good marks from the government education watchdog praise for improved standards of teaching.

The report also praised the level of support for students throughout the sixth form college.

It said: “Support for students, both pastoral and academic, is of a high standard. Staff treat each student as an individual, and willingly give up their time to give extra help to students.

“College leaders are highly effective in prioritising teaching and learning, embedding a culture of learning for staff and students, and promoting an inclusive environment that is welcoming to all.”

Principal Barry Hicks said: “Ofsted said the most wonderful things about our students. I was really pleased with the inspectors’ comments about their positive attendance, punctuality and readiness for learning and enjoyment.

“We are here with an intake of students that is not the same as Barton Peveril’s or Peter Symonds’ but we do hit the national benchmarks.”

Inspectors did highlight areas that needed improvement including English and mathematics but Mr Hicks thinks progress is being made.

He said: “I think with English and maths we pick up the problem that the city had had with prior English and maths achievement in schools.

“We are really keen to see where we can take that. We are on a roll of improvements and that is continuing.”

He added: “It’s down to the vigour of staff and the fact we have high morale and highly talented staff. There’s a real common purpose here and that is one of the joys of leading this place.

“We have a very committed group of people who feel well looked after by the college and are well up to the challenge.”