Memorandum 116

 

Memorandum from Swindon College

 

 

 

 

Swindon College is very concerned that the Governments' announcement to remove funding for the teaching of students studying for qualifications equivalent to, or lower than, qualifications for which they have previously received an award (ELQs) will have a widespread negative impact.

 

Swindon College has a strong and successful working relationship with local employers in providing opportunities to re-train, and update the professional skills of employees.

Programmes such as our Higher National Certificates and Diplomas are well established and highly regarded by employers, and neither they, nor the College would welcome any threat to their continued success. Our range of Foundation Degrees have been developed in collaboration with employers and are gaining popularity loaccly.

 

By the very nature of widening participation, many of our students will be adversely affected by the removal of this funding and will discontinue their lifelong learning because they cannot afford it.

In turn, as a provider, Swindon College may also deem these programmes to no longer be viable.

 

The Leitch review showed how as a country we will increasingly need people to learn new skills, to meet the demands of a constantly changing economy, yet the government has decided to limit the very re-training that will ensure the needs of the labour market are being met.

 

Swindon College suggests that the government defer this decision until it has carried out a full and proper consultation with ALL relevant stakeholders.

 

 

Kind regards

 

 

 

 

Jonquil Brooks

M.Ed; BA Hons

 

January 2008