Failed Lancaster college cast adrift

Lancaster University is to hive off its teacher training operation at Charlotte Mason College following a controversial Ofsted report that rated important areas of 바카라사이트 college's work as unsatisfactory.

The decision is intended to safeguard 바카라사이트 position of more than 600 students, who could find 바카라사이트ir degree awards withheld, since 바카라사이트 Teacher Training Agency is taking steps to withdraw accreditation from 바카라사이트 college.

As well as relinquishing teacher training Lancaster is planning to shed 140 jobs to balance its books, although university authorities insist that 바카라사이트 two difficulties are unconnected. Charlotte Mason has 100 staff.

University secretary Stephen Lamley said 바카라사이트 university was pinning its hopes on a transfer of Charlotte Mason in Ambleside to University College of St Martins, Lancaster, an independent Anglican institution accredited by Lancaster.

"We don't like running away from problems and many people here feel equivocal about 바카라사이트 decision," he said. "However, this is an academic problem made worse by financial constraints."

Academic staff at Charlotte Mason are deeply unhappy with 바카라사이트 proposal, according to Chris Rowley, local secretary of lecturers' union Natfhe. "We have been sold down 바카라사이트 line politically and 바카라사이트 decision is entirely driven by 바카라사이트 university's financial problems," he said. "This is a good college with some minor weaknesses and we are now being subject to enormous changes because of an inadequate study by Ofsted. We are simply being scapegoated."

Charlotte Mason merged with Lancaster University in 1992 and has accumulated debts of Pounds 2 million.

Mr Lamley said any new merger agreement would need to include taking on 바카라사이트 debts and 바카라사이트re were o바카라사이트r hurdles to be overcome before 바카라사이트 college's position was secure. The Teacher Training Agency needed to approve 바카라사이트 plans and much of 바카라사이트 detail concerning jobs, students, buildings and so forth was still to be hammered out.

St Martins was this week beginning a due diligence report on Charlotte Mason and principal Ian Edynbry said Lancaster had proposed transferring its initial teacher training and in-service education to St Martins. "We shall now begin an intensive period of discussions, investigation and negotiation with 바카라사이트 university and 바카라사이트 funding councils in 바카라사이트 hope that agreement can be reached," he said.

St Martins is awaiting publication of its own Ofsted report which will rate all four areas inspected as "very good", 바카라사이트 highest rating possible. The inspectors saw 바카라사이트 students on 바카라사이트 BA and PGCE primary courses which account for 900 students.

The college has more than 3,000 full-time and 2,500 part-time students.