Largest college slips into red as more students drop out
Fears raised for institution’s future as it faces deficit of more than £5m
THE largest college in Scotland is facing a deficit in excess of £5 million, according to a report.
Edinburgh College, which has a roll of about 30,000 students, has also seen a drop in the number reaching the end of their courses.
Course completion rates have fallen by 6 per cent over a one-year period and the college is failing to recruit enough new students.
Now the authors of the report – the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) – have expressed their concerns about the future of the college.
The college’s latest evaluation report says that the accounts for 2014/15 show a deficit of £5.1m over an 18-month period.
It also reveals that course completion rates for full-time learners has dropped from 65.4 per cent in 2013/14 to 59.6 per cent in 2014/15. The report also says it has struggled to attract new students, and progress towards delivering a new curriculum has been slow.
The report comes after a merger in 2012, which saw Edinburgh’s Jewel and Esk, Telford and Stevenson colleges combine under the umbrella of Edinburgh College.
The SFC report was concerned at the progress of the college since the merger, saying that it was not “at the level projected for academic year 2015/16”.
It adds: “While this merger has made progress in many areas, significant aspects of the college face challenges and remain under question.”
The authors even said that they had “heard of inconsistencies in student experience of processes across campus and curriculum areas”.
And it even suggests that instead of a review process the college should submit itself to “a programme of additional scrutiny”.
College principal Annette Bruton said: “We’ve been working closely with the SFC and have been upfront about the issues faced since the merger, so there are no surprises in the report.
“We know that our curriculum hasn’t been the right shape or size since merger and that’s the most crucial area to get right, to ensure recruitment and retention are solid and that our financial model is sustainable.
“We have a plan for developing the curriculum needed by students, businesses and the region as a whole, so over the next three years we will continue to work with the SFC and other partners to deliver this.”
Scottish Conservative shadow education secretary Liz Smith said: “It is essential that the principal and her team work quickly and effectively and ensure that the college is put back on a sure financial footing.
“Of course, there are wider issues at stake. Under the SNP, colleges have faced substantial cuts at the same time as having to face up to some controversial decisions about the merger programme.
“It seems that the fallout from this is hampering the ability of some colleges to respond to the needs of their local economy and to ensure that there is diversity in the provision of places.”