The University and College Union (UCU) has condemned City of Liverpool College's decision to cancel its A-level courses, a move that has left students facing uncertainty and distress.
The news was delivered to students at an enrolment session on Thursday (August 20), just 24 hours after they received their GCSE results, and only a day after the college informed its staff. The announcement came without prior notice, according to the Liverpool ECHO.
Students face scramble for alternatives
The current cohort of A-level students from the academic year 2025/26 will be able to finish their studies at the college and take exams next year. However, young people expecting to start their studies in September now face a "desperate scramble" to find alternative colleges.
A COLC staff member, who spoke to the ECHO on condition of anonymity, said staff had been called to a meeting by the college's leadership team, confirming the decision to cancel its A-level provision. There are also fears of uncertainty for staff, particularly faculty members who teach A-levels, some of whom were hired earlier this year with the expectation they would be teaching the courses for the next few years.
UCU statement and college response
UCU general secretary Jo Grady said: "Students and staff at City of Liverpool College have been badly let down by this sudden decision. Staff have been preparing to welcome students onto A-level courses, only to be told at the last minute that those offers are being withdrawn."
She added: "UCU was not consulted and we will be working with our members to make sure their interests are protected. Colleges need stable, long-term funding so they can respond to changes in demand without making decisions that have consequences for students and communities for years to come."
Representatives for COLC said there will be no redundancies at the college, which is the reason why it did not consult the union. A COLC spokesperson said it will continue to provide advice, while its learning support teams are available across all campuses during the enrolment period, providing guidance to alternative qualifications, including T-levels.
The spokesperson added: "Over half of these students have now enrolled on alternative qualifications within the college, our teams will continue to work with the remaining students to find an alternative programme or provider."
Support from other providers
Liverpool City Council said it is currently engaging in outreach work to establish the availability of places in the city. A spokesperson added: "We are in contact with The City of Liverpool College to see what support we can offer to students needing alternative further education provision."
Other A-level providers in the region, including Hugh Baird College and Gateacre School, have offered places on courses still available. Hugh Baird is accepting enrolments from Monday to Friday next week, between 9am and 3pm, with places available on a range of subjects including Art and Design, Biology, Business, Chemistry, Computer Science, and more.
Gateacre School said: "We recognise that some pupils have been adversely affected by the A-levels not being taught at the specified centre. In response, we are eager to do our part to support these students." The school has places available on subjects including English Literature, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and others.
