A college has been named one of the best in the country following a recent visit by Ofsted – thanks to team work.

Staff and students are celebrating after inspectors rated City College Brighton and Hove as good with outstanding features.

The rating is quite a turnaround for the college, which was judged to be satisfactory in 2007.

Principal Phil Frier, who took over the top job at the college four years ago, attributed the transformation to a strong team.

He said: “I’d say that the secret to the college’s success is most definitely team work. We’ve got terrific staff who are totally committed to helping students achieve at the highest level but who have also built up a great sense of camaraderie.

“There’s a really friendly community spirit at the college and I think that sort of culture is conducive to success.”

In their report inspectors praised the “outstanding leadership and management” of the college, which they said has “created a culture of high expectations for staff and learners and an ethos of reflection and review to promote continuous improvement”.

In terms of full-time course success rates, it has also recently been confirmed that City College is 14th in the league of England’s 234 general further education colleges.

For Level 3 (A-level equivalent) course success rates, the college is the fifth highest performing in the country.

Mr Frier said: “It’s a tribute to the hard work and commitment of every member of staff over the last four years.

“These results now give us the highlevel foundation on which to build an outstanding college over the next few years – the kind of college where we’ll be proud for our families and friends to be educated.”

Inspectors rated the college outstanding in the key areas of college life including capacity to improve, leadership and management and safeguarding.

The college also received the top rating in the curriculum areas of visual and performing arts and digital media.

Its development and use of partnerships with local businesses and organisations was also rated as outstanding.

All other areas inspected were rated good.

Simon Fanshawe, chairman of the Brighton and Hove Economic Partnership, said: “By training so many local people, City College is in the driving seat of the city’s economy.

With this latest spectacular Ofsted result, it’s really moved into the fast lane.”

Student Dan Ancell said: “City College provided me with an opportunity to thrive as a motor vehicle student when I came back into education as a 22-year-old and I’m extremely proud of the Ofsted result.”

For information on college courses go to www.ccb.ac.uk or call 01273 667759.