Results from a monitoring visit, carried out in May, were published this week and show the college has made significant progress in the provision of challenging lessons and the improvement of course evaluation.

A further six areas earmarked for improvement by inspectors have achieved reasonable progress.

It comes as the college prepares for exciting times, with construction work beginning last month on a new £17 million campus in St Mary's Walk in Bridlington.

Student numbers are steadily rising and principle Derek Branton said the results were part of the drive to achieve an outstanding Ofsted rating at the next report in 2010.

"The results of the Ofsted inspection in 2007 told us we were a good college and outlined areas where we needed to develop in order to be rated as 'outstanding'," he said.

"Since then, we have worked hard on these areas while ensuring we maintain our high standards in other areas.

"These findings are a clear indication we are heading in the right direction to achieve our ambition of 'outstanding' status in our next inspection."

The college, which has sites at Carnaby and in Beverley, was founded in 2002 when Beverley College and East Yorkshire College merged.

It offers a variety of courses including degrees, foundation degrees and apprenticeships.

Success rates for students aged 16 to 18 are predicted to increase to at least 71% in 2007/08 but the monitoring report commented: "It is too early to judge the accuracy of these predictions. Success rates for adults remain good and generally above sector averages at all levels."

Success rates for work-based learners and apprenticeship students were also found to have improved.

Links with employers and support for students seeking employment after their courses have improved thanks to a number of new initiatives in operation since September 2007.

Almost 200 students have participated in employability skills courses which cover topics such as preparing a CV, making contact with employers and interview skills.

David Thacker, the chairman of governors for East Riding College, praised the college staff's hard work.

He said: "As representatives of the local community we are more than happy to state that students who attend the college are receiving a very high standard of education and benefit from the determination of the staff to achieve 'outstanding' status in the not-too-distant future."