The standard of adult education in Kingston has dropped and needs to improve, according to a new Ofsted report.

The borough’s rating for its adult and community learning services has fallen from a rating of “good” to “requires improvement” following an inspection in October.

Outcomes for students on a 19-plus learners’ programme was ranked even lower, rated inadequate by the education watchdog.

The disappointing result comes amid uncertainty over the future of adult education in Kingston, with the service’s long-term headquarters at the North Kingston Centre in Richmond Road set to be turned into a free school by September 2015.

A new base has yet to be announced. Councillor David Cunningham, opposition member for schools, said: “This is symptomatic of a council that has taken its eye off the ball with regards to adult education.

“I have been involved for some years now and they have had to consider moving the headquarters from the North Kingston Centre.

“Instead of taking it as an opportunity to expand and improve the service they have sat back and done nothing really. “When you see this report it’s depressing.

“I’m sure morale is not good at all.”

Ofsted’s inspection found success rates for courses that lead to a qualification are low, and attendance rates are poor in many subjects.

There is a lack of imagination from tutors when it comes to enlivening lessons and the service as a whole does not always set aspirational and achievable targets for students, it said.

However, inspectors complimented the services maths and English teaching, pastoral care and partnership working.

Councillor David Ryder Mills, lead member for education, said: “Success rates in English for speakers of other languages were below the national average last year.

"As the biggest area of provision, this has had a major impact on the overall assessment. “Given its importance we have to improve in this area and have appointed new leadership.”

Coun Ryder Mills said he did not believe the disappointing report was the result of uncertainty over the service’s future, adding he believed a suitable alternative had been found and would go before the policy and resources committee next month.

Asked if the council had taken its eye off the ball with adult education, he said: "It has more to do with the higher targets constantly demanded by Ofsted.

“That we did not meet all of them is a disappointment which we have to, and will, improve upon, so that all areas of the work match the best, which include many priority areas.

“For example, inspectors recognised the good work being done to get learners into employment and A* level achievement rates in Maths and English were rated outstanding."