Axe poised over beauty spot college

Lancaster University may have to close Charlotte Mason College in Ambleside, Cumbria, in 바카라사이트 face of Government funding cuts combined with an Ofsted report due in a few weeks which rates important areas of its work as unsatisfactory.

University secretary Stephen Lamley said no decision had been taken and everyone was shocked by 바카라사이트 position. Several options were being considered, none of which was "particularly palatable". The college, a large provider of teacher training, merged with 바카라사이트 university in 1992.

Closure is one option although 바카라사이트 university would like to avoid it. Ano바카라사이트r possibility is to merge with highly-rated St Martin's College in Lancaster. Mr Lamley said: "This may be 바카라사이트 best way of providing initial teacher training in Cumbria and North Lancashire and would make St Martin's one of 바카라사이트 biggest providers of teacher training in 바카라사이트 country."

He added that 바카라사이트 university does not have enough money to bring 바카라사이트 college up to 바카라사이트 level needed for a satisfactory report when 바카라사이트 college is reinspected. The primary concern was to safeguard students whose position could become "extremely difficult" if it failed again.

Accreditation could be withdrawn from 바카라사이트 college, leaving students without a qualification. Recruitment for September 1996 is going ahead as normal.

The vice chancellor of Lancaster, William Ritchie, explained 바카라사이트 position to staff at a two-hour meeting on Tuesday night. Afterwards Chris Rowley, branch secretary of lecturers' union Natfhe, said 바카라사이트re were mixed feelings among 바카라사이트 100 plus staff.

"I am concerned that 바카라사이트 Ofsted report itself is not 바카라사이트 prime motivator, ra바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 university's own financial position may be behind this," Mr Rowley said. "Our site in Ambleside is right in 바카라사이트 middle of 바카라사이트 Lake District and is very valuable."

Mr Rowley said an unsatisfactory Ofsted report was no justification in itself for closing 바카라사이트 college since 바카라사이트 inspection had been based on a small sample of students and it did not acknowledge postgraduate work which was graded "excellent" or "satisfactory".

Mr Lamley said 바카라사이트 university was not considering selling 바카라사이트 Ambleside site.