Independent school The Abbey College is making improvements, according to its latest Ofsted report.

The report says the Malvern Wells school has suffered from a "lack of continuity in recent years" contributing to "serious weaknesses in relation to leadership and management".

But it also says the school has recognised those weaknesses and started to make improvements.

The report was written after an Ofsted inspector visited the school for five days last November.

Students' progress in lessons is generally good, it goes on, noting "above average progress" by A'Level maths, science and English students, but not in A'Level art.

Students, who come from many countries, "enjoy the opportunities provided to learn about each others' customs and backgrounds in an atmosphere of usual respect".

Teaching was marked from "very good to unsatisfactory; it is good overall". Teachers on the whole, the inspector reported, are suitably qualified and the teacher-student ratio is favourable.

There is, however, a shortage of staff in humanities, music and drama.

College principal Lawrence Denholme said: "Broadly, we welcome its conclusions. We've used the report as the basis for a complete review of all our procedures and practices and have responded in great detail to the requests made of us."

Mr Denholme added that a subsequent report by the British Accreditation Council for Independent Further and Higher Education described the Abbey as of a "good standard" and "effective".