City College management has announced plans to stop providing learning opportunities for adults with learning difficulties and disabilities from 2014/15.

These adults have been an integral part of the college community for over 30 years and have added huge value to the environment for all students. The courses have provided individuals with skills and social networks that they otherwise may not have had access to. Students are understandably upset by this change, and are left wondering what opportunities will be available to them in the future.

This is part of a restructuring of the College, which includes a £79million redevelopment of the Pelham Street site. Though there are cuts to funding for further education across the board, it is inequitable to simply exclude a group of learners as a way of saving money.  It is essential that there is provision for these students at the new City College, and any decision in which they are not involved would go against the College’s published core values : ‘Celebrating difference’ and ‘Respecting individuals’. 

The City College Union have been negotiating with the Board of Governors and it seems that, with enough pressure, they may change their minds about ceasing the ALDD provision altogether. However, what is being considered is still severe in terms of reductions; courses cut, class sizes doubled and qualified teaching assistants replaced with volunteer students.

We, the undersigned, ask the Governors of City College Brighton and Hove to abandon their original discriminatory plan and to continue to provide fair learning opportunities for all people in the city, so that they can truly live up to their bannered claims of "Adult Courses for everyone."