To be pissed off that the government has withdrawn funding for level 3 courses for 16-18 year olds

[Moominsarescary]

the same week as they were due to start the course. Ds1 is 17 and has just finished his level 2 in electrical instillation.

He received a phone call from his tutor this week to say government funding has been withdrawn and the price of the course is now £3750. I have some money put away that would just about cover it but we can't withdraw it for another year.

There are very few apprenticeships and all but one wouldn't even consider taking him because he doesn't have a driving licence. Also I can't see many small businesses taking 16-18 year old on now as they would have to pay for the level 3. They're far more likely to take on 19 year olds who the government will fund.

We can't take out a loan and I don't think we can afford to pay that much in installments over the next 10 months. Ds is working but can't find a job with a permanent contract so we can't rely on him getting enough work to pay for it him self.

AIBU to think this is a shitty thing to do at the last minute, it's now too late for him to enrole on another course this year.

I've spoken to the head electrical tutor, he hasn't said if it will be superseded by a new level 3, just that the course is nobly available to those who can pay or are over 19 and are entitled to government funding.

I know that the course start date was put back a few weeks ago as they were waiting for city and guilds to release the course criteria ( or that's what they told us)

I will get ds to ring the tutor and ask about the 2365 thankyou

I've just spoken to him and he said they've allready scrapped the 2330 and it's the 2365 that weve been told is not funded for 16-18 year olds

We also spoke to admissions to see if we could get him on to level 2 plumbing or joinery but the places are full

That is a appauling. There has been a complete collapse in evening courses available in my area as no one can afford the new fees.

Its utterly stupid as people often have to retrain for one reason or another.

The 2365 is not available for funding this year but it should be for next year for all age groups (subject to certain criteria in relation to previous qualifications)

Our College is offering the level 3 for 16 - 18 this year (our previous level 2 students) on a funded basis but 19+ are having to pay.

If you have other College's in your area it is worth doing a ring around as they are likely to be taking on late enrolments for the next few weeks.

If a level 2 plumbing or joinery place is not available at the moment, it is worth asking for his details to go onto a waiting list.

There are always students who drop out or transfer to different courses in the first few week, or who the college "get rid" of for behavioural issues.

If he has a good track record at the college already that should put him in the tutors mind when looking to fill any open positions.

That's good finger so at least next year he shouldn't have to pay then.

He was going to ring round other colleges in the area as his tutor told him they might offer it cheaper, I don't think he's tried that though as it would probably still be too expensive. I'll tell him to ring them to see if they're still offering the course funded.

Contact the skills funding agency - the funding should not have been with drawn - unless the provider has failed to provide opportunities or failed due to poor standards

Funding isn't just 'withdrawn' for on going courses without a reason

Level 3 funding for 16-19 year old is still available

[http://skillsfundingagency.bis.gov.uk/]

cock! skillsfundingagency.bis.gov.uk/

if Connexions also still exists in some for in year area contact them

Definitely look into waiting lists - there are always people who don't show up, or are "non-started" for other reasons during the first six weeks.

This sounds like spectacularly poor planning on the part of the college. They should have told the students about the changes, so they could make informed decisions and go elsewhere if possible.

I used to work in FE. This is a bad sign - it sounds to me as if the tutors are being kept in the dark over things. If I were your son, I would be looking at other colleges if I could, as the electrical course may disappear completely next year in a reorganisation.

Also, it's always worth snooping around for apprenticeships and junior-level jobs. A bit of initiative and cheek really does impress employers (dad is one).

Just re read - makes a bit more sense now - sorry - eating toast!

I would still contact the SFA and Connexions for support as he is now NEET

The college does seem bloody poor at organising, they were forever being sent home last year due to staffing.

He's going to ring the other colleges in our area, I know he's had some involvement with connexions in the past so will give them a try. He's going to update his cv at the weekend and send it off to company's in our area.

He's paid for a cscs card so he can do some labouring on construction sites if he has to wait until next year. Problem is lots won't employ him because the insurance is too much for his age! Dp is self employed and works in construction and has a card (can't remember what it's called) that means he can employ and provide people to work on site so is going to check his insurance to see if ds can work through him. The experiance might be a good thing and lots of the construction companies dp does work for employ electricians.

It sounds as if the department your son was in is poorly resourced and disregarded by college management. This happens. The senior governance teams at FE colleges are not teachers or lecturers, or focused on student needs. They are business managers, or they think they are, and are only concerned with budgets and reputation.

Going to the local press might get some results, especially if your son can get a group of disappointed students together.

Contact Connexions (if they still exist in your area). They will be able to advise on other suitable local opportunities. Connexions (or your LA careers service) has a responsibility to ensure that no young people are NEET (not in education, employment or training) so they will be more than keen to find DS other opportunities. He also needs to register on www.apprenticeships.org.uk for any local apprenticeships and there are still some that haven't started.

He could go to your local armed forces careers service for better advice about the RAF. I'm sorry that the careers advice he has had so far has been poor but I assure you there is quality careers advice out there.

The funding that has been withdrawn is for that particular course. Just to reassure other parents Level 3 courses are free to students aged 19 and under.

I am beginning to wonder why the tutor didn't tell us he will get funding next year instead of just telling us funding has stopped for 16-18 year olds and that we will have to pay if he wants to do it before he turns 19

Write to the local press.

Write to local MP.

Write to Education Secretary.

Drop by the armed forces recruitment office. Just to see what his options are.

Moomin what area do you live? My job is funded by the local council to support risk of neet young people into training education etc. so I have had a great deal of involvement in enrolling etc. recently. The college I work for (who won the bid for my job) are still enrolling young people for courses as are other colleges in the area - I know as some young people I support are at other places.

Funding for schools and colleges happens on the previous year's figures and what is forcasted for the coming year. I am assuming your son was enrolled last year and would have applied towards the end of his previous course. Does the college have a student support department? I would imagine they would be able to help. I am sure you and your son are very distressed but what you have been told doesn't add up so something has gone wrong somewhere.

Connexions has been disbanded in my area but the work has been taken up elsewhere.

Were in nottingham, yes he enrolled for the level 3 towards the end of the level 2. He was told a couple of weeks ago that the course would be late starting as they were still waiting for city and guilds to send the course info through

Agree with qo.