College rejects thousands

Jan 11 2013 by Ross Dunn, Irvine Herald

Cuts to education funding has meant James Watt College has had to turn away over 1000 students.

The college has had to turn away students after funding for colleges across the country was slashed by the Scottish Government.

The statistics are based on all four of James Watt’s campuses, with one based in Kilwinning.

The statistics come after a Freedom of Information request revealed that colleges across Scotland are having to turn suitable candidates away.

The Scottish Government also plans to slash a further £34m out of the college budget.

Scottish Liberal Democrat education spokesperson, Liam McArthur MSP, has slammed James Watt’s figures.

“James Watt College was unable to accommodate 1261 students in 2012/13.

“That is 1261 missed opportunities.

“It rings alarm bells that many of our colleges are turning applicants away due to a lack of places,” he added.

In response to the publication of figures obtained by Scottish Liberal Democrat education spokesperson, Liam McArthur MSP, a spokesperson for James Watt College said:

“James Watt College has designed its curriculum to meet the needs of its local businesses and communities and resource these courses accordingly.

“Some of the courses we offer are more popular and have a higher demand from prospective students, however the college has to balance that demand for places with the demands of local businesses for skills and the supply of jobs in the market together with the availability of courses at nearby colleges.

“This number given relates to the number of students, over all 4 of our campuses, who were unsuccessful in getting onto their first choice of course, as these courses were fully subscribed.

“However, these students would have been notified about places available on other available and related courses at James Watt College or at other colleges and should have been able to apply for another place to study at college.”