BRADFORD College has blamed Government funding cuts for having to cut staff dedicated to helping jobseekers improve their English.

Nine full-time teaching jobs are at risk after the college lost its £700,000 budget to run English courses for foreign speakers, provided by the Skills Funding Agency until July.

The University and College Union has now vowed to work with the college to avoid any compulsory job losses by redeploying staff across other English courses. It has criticised the funding cut as “appalling and desperately short-sighted,” especially in light of the European refugee crisis, which has just seen the first Syrian refugees arrive in Britain.

Although the college proposals are for nine full-time teaching jobs to be lost the actual numbers of people affected will be larger as many of the staff work part-time.

MORE EDUCATION HEADLINES

UCU regional official, Julie Kelley, said: "It doesn’t make sense for the college to lose qualified staff who teach vital language and life skills that improve their chances of finding work, and settling into the community."

A college spokesman said: "Bradford College is committed to minimising the risk of compulsory redundancies and is working with those affected and the UCU to redeploy staff where possible. Staff directly affected by the Government funding cuts are involved in on-going consultation meetings and support during this process.”

A statement from the Skills Funding Agency stated: "Colleges, as independent organisations, are responsible for their own management and staffing. English language ESOL learning continues to be funded through the Adult Skills Budget and eligible learners are still entitled to training to support them into work.”