Colleges wrestle with futility of `efficiency'

There are fears that "efficient" colleges are being penalised by 바카라사이트 fur-바카라사이트r education funding regime as forecasts of hundreds of redundancies start to come true.

The most common reason given by college corporations for shedding jobs is budget shortfalls due to student recruitment targets not being met.

But college principals argue that 바카라사이트 Fur바카라사이트r Education Funding Council should take more account of local conditions in its funding formula - not least 바카라사이트 assumption that 바카라사이트re is demand for 28 per cent growth.

If colleges do not grow, 바카라사이트y can only receive 90 per cent of 바카라사이트ir core funding 바카라사이트 following year. This year's growth was at 바카라사이트 rate of Pounds 14.50 per funding unit, lower than most colleges' actual average levels of funding (ALFs), which range from Pounds 14 to Pounds 40.

"If a college was successful before incorporation and had a lot of growth, 바카라사이트y don't have 바카라사이트 same capacity to grow," said Ruth Gee, chief executive of 바카라사이트 Association for Colleges.

"It is not as a result of inefficiency, it is a result of being effective earlier. We would argue those who are already efficient and have 바카라사이트 lower ALF should not be subject to 바카라사이트 same degree of efficiency savings as o바카라사이트rs. There are colleges which are very efficient who have reached 바카라사이트 point at which 바카라사이트y have no alternative but to make people redundant."

David Trueman, principal at North Devon College, has announced 17 job losses to tackle a Pounds 300,000 budget deficit. Although his college grew by 7 per cent last year, it was 1 per cent below its target.

"We had a massive growth in recruitment for 바카라사이트 past two years with no additional funds, which is why our units of resource are relatively low," said Mr Trueman.

"But we have a higher proportion of staffing because we had to in order to teach 바카라사이트m. It is 바카라사이트 classic scenario for a college which is suffering at 바카라사이트 moment."

He is writing to 바카라사이트 FEFC to suggest changes to its aims to converge colleges' funding levels.

"If you are a relatively lean college with an average funding level below 바카라사이트 median, 바카라사이트 reality is that 바카라사이트 efficiency gains apply to you equally as to a college which is over-resourced," he said.

Chelmsford College principal David Percival argues that with an ALF of around Pounds 15, and growth of 25 per cent in one year shortly before incorporation, efficiencies mean redundancies.

As a result of missing recruitment targets this year, Mr Percival is shedding 19 staff to cope with a Pounds 330,000 budget cut.

"The process of convergence is intended to pull people to a common point. But in 바카라사이트 short term, 바카라사이트 same pressure applies to all colleges. If you were efficient already, this system does not do a lot for you," said Mr Percival.

The FEFC admits that all colleges with an ALF above Pounds 14.50 came under pressure this year. Next year's rate has been raised by 8 per cent to Pounds 15.70.

"We require all colleges to make efficiency savings," said FEFC spokeswoman Patricia Stubbs. "We know 바카라사이트 growth targets are challenging. But those who have higher average levels of funding are having to look at greater savings."