Devastated students left in limbo as college course axed 'out of the blue'

The end of the academic year at Macclesfield College has once again left students devastated at the sudden axing of a course. It was announced on Thursday, June 13, that the animal care course would not be run in the next academic year.

The course has around eight students in each of two years and those about to finish their first 12 months will have to complete their studies elsewhere.

Prospective pupils due to start the first year in September - who are currently in the middle of their GCSEs - must also find an alternative.

Last June a similar decision saw music performance students face an identical situation. This time a new plumbing course will run from September.

Mum Abigail Phillips says her daughter Charlotte, 17, is among those affected by the latest axing.

She said: “It is a shock, I came home to find her in floods of tears. I would have expected at least some warning, they have gone about it terribly.

“Even if it had been done at half term we could look for something else, now our daughter cannot complete her qualification locally and has no opportunity to visit other colleges.

“Shockingly they were still accepting first years until yesterday so now lots of students will have to find new places before September. Really not the stress they need in the middle of their GCSEs.

“If it was maths it wouldn’t matter so much but animal care is more unusual and different colleges have different animals.”

An email sent to parents cited a lack of demand from employers for such a qualification as a reason for the decision.

But Abigail, who lives in Buxworth, says her daughter had no problem finding work placements and Macclesfield has plenty of nearby rural areas.

An alternative place would be Reaseheath College, but this is in Nantwich and would involve the additional expense of Charlotte having to live away from home.

The axing of the music performance course in 2023 was down to low student numbers, the college said.

And in June 2021 the performing arts course was another to be cut in similar circumstances.

Thursday’s e-mail from the college said there would be an information session for those affected on Wednesday, June 19, to discuss alternative options. A representative from Reaseheath College will attend.

A college spokesperson said: “Macclesfield College is proud to be at the forefront of employer engagement. Listening to employers and forecasting the job demands and opportunities for our students is key to our strategic goals as the local college. After careful consideration of the Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP), triangulated with the demand from local employers, we have taken the difficult decision to remove a provision that does not meet the local employment needs.

“With this in mind Macclesfield College will close the animal care offer from September 2024. Improving the curriculum offer that is led by employer demand and meets the LSIP priorities is vital.

“Considering this as part of our curriculum planning cycle, a new plumbing provision will be offered from September 2024. This will offer multiple pathways from apprenticeships in plumbing, to a full-time programme for 16-19 year olds. In addition, it will give Macclesfield College the capacity to offer adult plumbing courses.

“The skills shortage is at an all-time high in the trade industry, and this is predicted to continue, plumbers are third most in-demand tradespeople in the UK

“We understand for a number of students this will be disappointing.

“We do feel confident our offer is reflective of demand and that one of the newly introduced provisions will appeal to a number of students.

“The college will work closely with the students affected to help them find alternative pathways.”

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