A headteacher renowned for turning around bad schools has been parachuted in to save a struggling college.

Mark Silverman has been appointed as the new principal of Lambeth College, the borough’s largest education provider, following critical feedback from Ofsted inspectors last month.

A final report is due to be published later in March, but it is understood inspectors criticised the college for maintaining the same standards as previous years while other further education colleges in London have improved.

Mr Silverman, who has had successful tenures at struggling colleges in Watford and Northamptonshire, will be tasked with overseeing teaching of the college’s 12,000 pupils.

He told the Streatham Guardian that government inspectors had found “areas for development”, but he dismissed suggestions the college was “failing”.

He said: “I wouldn’t use that word. There is a lot of work that we all need to do. I want to involve all staff in the journey of taking the college forward.

“I want to give the college some direction. I want to make sure everyone is focussed on doing the best for students.”

The college, which has seen student numbers plummet from 21,000 in 2004-5 to 13,200 in 2010, has been hit by severe budget cuts since 2006.

Teachers and staff went on strike in 2010 to protest against impending redundancies and further budget cuts by central government.

In 2009, inspectors found the college had made “insufficient progress” in terms of improving standards across the institution, noting that pass rates had declined.

Mr Silverman insisted he was “looking forward” to turning the college around.

He said: “It is a fantastic opportunity to come to Lambeth at this time. I am looking forward to a positive journey of improvements. There is no doubt that this part of London needs it.”

A spokesman for Ofsted would not comment on the recent inspection.