Council plea over college places

A-levels will no longer be taught at the college's Weybridge site

Surrey County Council says it wants help from the government to find 1,300 new places for students when a college cuts its provision next year.

Brooklands College announced last month it was to close its Ashford campus at the end of the academic year and stop teaching A-levels in Weybridge.

The college was left £10m in debt when the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) withdrew funding.

The LSC said it was working with the college to minimise disruption.

Brooklands College in Weybridge merged with Spelthorne College in Ashford in 2007.

The LSC encouraged the new college to embark on a rebuilding programme but earlier this year said it could no longer provide funding.

I am very angry that this whole situation has been handled so badly Councillor Peter Martin

MPs on the Innovation, Universities, Science and Skills Committee condemned the "catastrophic mismanagement" of the building scheme, which affected 144 colleges in England.

Councillor Peter Martin said the county council, which takes over responsibility for 16-19 education from the LSC next April, had been left to pick up the pieces.

"I am very angry that this whole situation has been handled so badly," he said.

"I want a meeting with ministers to prevent a severe impact on the future careers of so many young people," said Mr Martin.

"The council should not be put in a position of starting a new role by picking up the pieces of a financial disaster that is not of Brooklands or our making."

Brooklands principal Colin Staff said he hoped the college would to be able to have a presence in the Ashford area.

Approach businesses

He said the 1,000 vocational courses lost on the campus included construction, hairdressing, catering and travel in a borough that had high levels of young people not in education, employment or training.

Among options being considered is approaching businesses to see if they can offer on-the-job training.

Another is providing transport from Ashford to the Weybridge campus.

The LSC said it was working with Brooklands to underpin its future and its financial health.

"When agreement is reached it will also ensure that disruption for learners is minimised and the availability of local provision maximised," it said in a statement.