THE Government inspector appointed to monitor improvement at failing West Somerset College has made his first visit to the Minehead campus.

The college is currently in special measures after being branded inadequate on all levels by education watchdog Ofsted.

As part of its recovery, it has been allocated an inspector who this week made the first of up to five visits scheduled to take place over the next two years.

The inspector is understood to have spent yesterday (Thursday) observing and meeting with teaching staff and governors.

The results of his findings - expected to run to no more than a page - should be made public.

Earlier this month the college published its plan of action for improvement, which contained a series of tough targets designed to turn around its fortunes by the spring of 2016.

The plan aims to address the failings outlined by Ofsted and sets a milestone of ensuring 90 per cent of teaching is good and 30 per cent outstanding within two years.

And it also lays down a target of 53 per cent of students achieving five A* to C GCSEs, including English and maths, by next year.

It was this year's poor GCSE results - which initially saw just 38 per cent of students gain the benchmark number of passes - that sparked a crisis at the college and brought it to Ofsted's attention.

Parents, angry at the impact on their children's education, launched petitions to remove principal Gaynor Comber and the board of Governors, set up a campaign group, staged a protest and were successful in bringing the college to the attention of a range of outside education experts.

However, posts on the campaign group's online discussion page, show that some parents are now prepared to give college leaders the chance to deliver improvements and raise standards.

Bad behaviour - singled out by Ofsted as impeding students' learning - is being tackled and many parents report their children are receiving more homework than previously.

As a result of its special measures designation, the college is currently receiving help from a raft of education experts, including advisors from South West Regional Schools Commissioner Sir David Carter's office.

It is also working with Heathfield School in Taunton to improve maths and The Blue School, Wells to raise standards in English.

An education consultant is working with teachers, while senior leaders and governors are also receiving training designed to improve their leadership skills.