EPPING Forest College is making "reasonable" progress in improving its quality of education following a poor inspection report last summer, Ofsted has said.

Last August the college, in Borders Lane, Loughton, was criticised by the education watchdog for "inadequacies" in a number of key areas, such as its management, leadership, achievement and standards, and overall effectiveness.

But now a progress report published this month - following a "monitoring" inspection in November - has found a number of improvements.

It says there has been an increase in student retention and success rates on courses, improved leadership, and advances in science, maths and business teaching, and better promotion of equality and diversity.

However "insufficient progress" was identified in its attempts to engage more with potential employers for its students.

The report also added that a permanent principal is due to start at the college this summer, taking over from the current acting principal.