EXCLUSIVE

by Trevor Sturgess

Hadlow College has become one of the UK's top colleges after being given an outstanding report by watchdogs.

Just a few years after poor performance took it to the brink of closure, Ofsted inspectors have awarded the college 24 outstanding grades out of a possible 27.

The remaining three grades were good.

Ten inspectors judged the college on teaching, quality of provision, student experience, stakeholder partnerships, financial performance and other things.

Hadlow College's reputation has been soaring in recent years, with its land-based courses attracting thousands of students from Kent and across the country.

It is one of 18 land-based colleges in the UK and the latest Ofsted marks now make it one of the best, if not the best.

Paul Hannan, the college principal, was unavailable for comment.

But in a letter to senior Kent figures, he said: "We believe this is one of the highest Ofsted gradings of any type of college in the country.

"We are all extremely pleased with the assessment. We do realise that there are still many things to do and challenges ahead, but as such a high-performing specialist college, we believe that with your continued support, we are will prepared to take Hadlow to even greater success in the next few years."