A college in Bexley facing “challenging” circumstances according to councillors has been told  improve  again by inspectors.

The Learning & Enterprise College Bexley (LEC Bexley) has had a “requires improvement” Ofsted rating for nearly four years, and recently was given the same rating again.

The LEC is an adult education community learning and skills provider, and was found by inspectors to require improvement in five of seven areas assessed.

Bexley Council decided in April 2017 to merge the Learning Centre in Bexley with  other council services including Resources Plus and Bexley Twofold to create a learning and employment service.

It merged in September, but has been blasted again by Ofsted inspectors who visited in February.

The education watchdog said leadership and quality of teaching needed to improve.

At a meeting on Wednesday evening, Ms Jacqueline Beckett, head of education to employment, said: “Work has been progressing since September in order to improve outcomes for our residents.

“We had an Ofsted in 2016, and there has been improvement in the college however there is still a long way to go. We still require improvement.”

Inspectors said students need targets for progress, as well as more support to improve English and Maths teaching.

The college was told that since its last inspection, leaders had not sufficiently improved the quality of teaching.

The college does provide a wide range of courses, and students with learning difficulties make good progress at the college. The service was rated ‘Good’ for Personal development, behaviour and welfare and for provisions for learners with high needs.

Councillor Joe Ferriara said: “The recent Ofsted rating is requiring improvement. How can these improvements be achieved?

Ms Beckett said: “We are working on an action plan which picks up the activities picked up by Ofsted, we are working towards that.

“We have had some governance changes and a review of the strategic board and the level of oversight that we have. We are having regular meetings with the Education Skills and Funding Agency to provide us with support and challenge the work we are doing to improve our outcomes.”

Cllr Linda Bailey said: “I want to recognise the work that has been done over the last couple of years, it has been quite challenging to say the least. I am sure the college will go up.”