WILTSHIRE College staff and students are celebrating their glowing Ofsted report, confirming the college is one of the best in the country.

The quality of teaching and student achievement was judged as outstanding in visual, performing arts, media, work-based learning in engineering and in provision for students with learning difficulties and disabilities.

"This is a major achievement by the governors and staff of the college, given that the college is only two years old," said Geoff Burgess, chairman of the governors.

"We have worked very hard to ensure that our students are at the centre of what we do. We operate closely with employers and many community organisations."

The inspectors identified the college's key strengths as good teaching, high retention and pass rates, good guidance and support for full time students, strong leadership and management, excellent communication across the college and with external partners, as well as effective widening of participation.

The students have given the college top marks, too.

The report showed that students enjoyed the adult atmosphere of college life and the friendly, supportive staff, knowledgeable teachers, good teaching, excellent resources, wide range of courses and good tutorial and pastoral support.

The report said: "Eighty-seven per cent of students achieved their qualification aim, which places the college in the top quarter of colleges nationally.

"In 2000/1 the overall retention rate was 93 per cent for full time courses and 92 per cent for part time courses, putting the college into the top ten per cent of colleges nationally for retention."

Grades in 14 areas included two outstanding, eight good, three satisfactory and one unsatisfactory in engineering.

Mr Burgess said: "The report points to areas we know we have to improve also. However, to have achieved such recognition from Ofsted I hope will give the people and businesses of the area every confidence in the quality that Wiltshire College is achieving."

Principal George Bright attributed the unsatisfactory grading for the subject of engineering to teachers' nerves during the Ofsted inspection, which took place in March.

"Some of the staff in that area did not perform as well as they might have done, under the stress of the inspection period," he said.

"It is an area where we have some good teachers, who did not do themselves justice. Put it down to human frailty. Some training work is going on and that area will be re-inspected in the autumn."

Now the college will continue to build on its successes. The last Ofsted was five years ago, before the merger of the colleges at Trowbridge, Chippenham and Lackham.

"In the main since the last Ofsted we have a better quality of teaching provision by a couple of grades since the last Ofsted," said Mr Bright.

"We will carry on improving. There are still things to work on."

The report praised the outstanding ICT facilities and high ratio of work stations to students, as well as the library and learning facilities.

Potential students receive a speedy and helpful service from the college and students are kept well informed about the range of services.

Leadership and management were reckoned to be good, with a clear vision for the college's future direction.

The report also highlights the quality of the college's environment. "Accommodation on the three campuses and the community-based venues is of good standard and is well maintained," it said.