A trouble-hit college is on target to come out of special measures by its target date of July 2002, says Brighton and Hove's education chief.

But it could take five years for East Brighton College of Media Arts to achieve its original objectives.

Education director David Hawker made the announcement at the final meeting of a Brighton and Hove Council panel convened to find out what went wrong when the school was relaunched last year under the Government's Fresh Start initiative.

He said the college was now making good progress but described the position there as fragile.

Mr Hawker said the college was faring better than many Fresh Start schools in terms of results, pupil numbers and staff turnover.

He said some of the original plans for the college had been imaginative but unrealistic.

He said: "What we really need to focus on are the basic qualities of literacy, numeracy, attendance and behaviour."

Mr Hawker said the media arts side of the school was now secondary to getting the basics right, but he added: "I wouldn't want to lose it and it will come into play later."

The scrutiny panel, chaired by former Brighton mayor Jackie Lythell, will hold a private meeting and talk informally to parents before preparing a report.