Evening class fees to soar

One class fee has almost doubled, prompting its tutor to predict that there will be no leisure courses for adults in two years' time. But the college says even though course fees have had to be increased because there is no more Government subsidy, recreational evening classes will continue.

Subsidies to colleges for leisure subjects have stopped, with funding switched to work-related courses. It will help support job training for low-skilled workers and young people who have left school with few or no qualifications.

For the past six years Brian Eastoe, from Drayton, near Abingdon, has been teaching wood carving.

The 10-week course costs £72, but, from September, it will cost £99 for only seven weeks. He said: "There are 14 people on the course. It is very popular but I fear for the future.

"I have pensioners on the course who are being discriminated against. They have paid their taxes and deserve something better.

"If fewer people enrol and college costs continue to rise there will be a downward spiral with courses being chopped.

"The college appears more interested in its day classes than evening courses.

"The way things are going, I am prepared to take a bet that there will be no evening classes in two years' time."

Brian Garside, 59, a semi-retired driver from Marcham, has been on the course for 18 months, but will not be enrolling in September.

He said: "When I started, the course the fee was £52. It then moved up to £72, and the new rate is £99 for a shorter course. It's too expensive."

College director of development Steve Billcliffe said the college was doing what the Government wanted, delivering more qualification-based vocational courses.

He said: "Regrettably we have had to increase our fees, but despite this we do not expect to see any tremendous fall-off in demand.

"The subsidy we previously enjoyed for adult recreational courses has gone, and as a result we are having to ask people to pay more for those courses."