“Thank you, Amanda for restoring my faith in CCP students - you are obviously dissapointed, but not taking the ME, ME, ME approach of other students who have commented here. I wish you all the luck in finding and alternative.

It may be worth looking on the worktrain website (just google it), you may be lucky enough to find another local provider who can help you.”

“I was going onto a level 2 cake decorating course this year and was really looking forward to it had to find out myself that it was not going to be very dissapointed havent been told of any other plaaces and hope my teacher has not lost her job she was brilliant and feel sorry for all those who might lose there jobs even though with todays finances its whats got to be done not whats wanted to be done .”

“anon, england, if you read the article, the college has a funding income of £33 MILLION pounds a year. This takes someone with the right skills and experience to deliver this effectively. Do you really think they would get the right calibre of applicant for the post if they advertised it at National Minimum Wage? Get real!

Fiona, Plymouth - in earlier posts, you showed your ignorance of FE Funding, in your most recent, you show your ignorance of the benefits system. You really should do your research before firing off wild accusations. Also, I did not accuse you of being on a counselling course (and therefore the menopausal comment was not directed at you).

It is only since the budget and final figures have been calculated and passed down to the college from the Skills Funding Agency (in the last couple of weeks), that the college have been able to make decisions.

Perhaps they put those they considered the less likely to succeed on the reserve course? If that is the case, that must really grate with you - to think that some of the people in receipt of benefits are doing better than you.

You have twice made it very clear about which courses you are NOT doing, but have kept quiet about the course you are doing. could it be because the course you are doing will add very little to society?”

“@shakeshead I AM NOT DOING A COUNSELLING COURSE and NOT menopausal, you may have experience in this field BUT when you are in a class of 20 and only 2 are paying students and the rest only pay for course materials,( usually £10 ) I do not call that reduced fees I call that not paying anything and those that didn't were there purely to appease the JSA, although how they can do a full time course and still be available for work is beyond me.

If the college knew this was definately going to happen they should NOT have allocated me a place in the first place,to then send a letter telling me I have now been put on a reserve list is why I'm mad”

“principal on £120.000 a year. member of staff made redundent was on £90.000 a year, internal news letter circulated about 2 months ago advertising for the same position with a salery of £95.000 + relocation fees. makes you wonder. i do fully expect the herald to wipe this post as they dont like anything on here thats too close to the truth”

“Fiona - your moaning shows you have no understanding of the funding systems used within FE colleges. You seem to think that courses wil still run, but only for 'DHSS' clients - DHSS dissapeared years ago, and your impression is completely wrong.

People in receipt of benefits were entitled to reduced fees so that those on low incomes were not deprived of the chance to better themselves. You seem to be advocating that only those with a disposable income, and can afford to pay should be in college - a little elitist I feel?

Yes the college has had funding reduced, what is it supposed to do - provide training in trades for school leavers (builders, plumbers, mechanics, care workers etc.), or not fund the countrys future and instead run 'hobby' courses, such as counselling. Most of the attendees on these counselling courses are pashmeena wearing, middle-class, menopausal women, who are only doing the course to try and resolve their own neuroses. You may want to accuse me of being bitter and twisted, but my observations are based on twenty years of working within the FE field, some of my time managing programmes within the counselling field, and therefore I am in a position to speak with experience.

Does a shortage of tradespeople impact on our daily lives, yes. Does a shortage of 'beauty therapists' and counsellors have the same impact - I think not!”

“I would just like to add that although in the same boat as Donna I am / was not studying the same subject.

Steve I agree about paying thats why I'm so angry I want to go further with my studying unlike those on JSA and because I pay I give it my all which reflects in my results”

“Whilst I appreciate 'Steve, plymouth' must be frustrated, I fail to see why the majority of staff should take pay cuts to subsidise courses. The Government cut in funding is not C.C.P.'s fault - it is another repercussion of the current economic climate we are in. A lot of the staff at C.C.P. will also have been through College/University etc. and have earned their qualifications and are, as you describe, now 'professional'. As for paying for courses, the Tuition fees debate is a controversial issue. Current and prospective students are against further increases in tuition fees as a whole. The whole situation is a vicious circle - there are a limited number of jobs currently available, the standard of applicant and competition for jobs has increased drastically due to rising levels of redundancies/unemployment and as a result people are either looking to add/gain more qualifications (to improve their employability) or are looking to continue their education. This means that demand for courses/places has increased, but the funding just isn't available (HE institutions are having to turn people away, or if they¿re fortunate apply for a moderate increase in course places, which is rarely granted). As for jobs, I was recently told that the new Tesco store (soon to open in Callington) had over a 1000 applicants apply for customer service/shop floor positions alone!”

“Just what this country needs - more b****y Counsellors!”

“once again City college is a waste of space, they dont understand the important aspects of being able to provide courses which will aid the students in later life to work as a professional NOT be stuck in a dead end job or being on JSA for rest of there lives. All the colleges need to do is: give staff members a pay cut and make people how left school pay for the courses, that would help the to save and gain money.”