A PETITION has been launched calling for the removal of West Somerset College principal Gaynor Comber following Ofsted’s report rating the college “inadequate”.

The West Somerset Raising Standards group, which is made up of concerned parents of students at the college and members of the public, has also launched a petition people can sign if they want Mrs Comber to stay “so that both sides have the opportunity to add their names”.

Nobody from the college was available for comment as the County Gazette went to press but, in a letter sent to parents earlier this month, Mrs Comber said she was “devastated” at the Ofsted report, which ranked the college inadequate in all areas. She said she believed the college could “significantly improve” with the help of staff, governors, parents and students.

An action plan has also been launched to address Ofsted’s concerns but, despite requests for a copy, the County Gazette had not received one at the time of going to press.

The two petitions set up by WSRS have been launched on the website change.org As we went to press, the petition calling for Mrs Comber’s removal had received 405 signatures, while the petition in support of her and the governors had received seven signatures.

A spokesperson for West Somerset Raising Standards said: “We do not believe that Gaynor Comber and the board of governors have the ability to turn the college around.

“We would like a crack team appointed by Ofsted or the Department of Education and this has to happen sooner rather than later.

“Every day gone by is a day lost to our children’s education.”