A TROUBLED college is due to receive a visit from inspectors tomorrow as it struggles to cope with the aftermath of its decision to ditch A-levels.

Representatives from the Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted) are planning to spend four days at Totton College, which is scrapping part of its curriculum and axing jobs as its cash crisis escalates.

As reported in the Daily Echo, 90 students midway through their two-year courses are being urged to switch to another college in September.

The Ofsted inspection has angered staff, who fear the visit will result in teachers and pupils suffering even more stress.

Daily Echo:

In a letter to colleagues the new interim principal, Jo Landles (pictured above), says: “As I’m sure you will agree the timing of this could hardly be worse.

“We have made the very strongest representation to Ofsted to defer or cancel this inspection in the best interests of our students.

“However, Ofsted have rejected our request. I am deeply sorry that this process is adding further stress for staff and students.”

One staff member, who asked not to be named, said: “Totton College has suffered enough. An inspection by Ofsted at this time is a disgrace and a waste of public funds.

"Jo Landles spent most of a day pleading with Ofsted to postpone or even cancel the inspection due to the current situation the college is facing.

"But Ofsted has informed Ms Landles there are ‘not sufficient reasons’ for the inspection to be cancelled.”

Totton councillor David Harrison added: “It’s hard to think of a worse environment for staff and students right now.

"That said, I understand the Ofsted inspection has been expected for some time and will have been planned well in advance.”

Existing A-level pupils are being offered the choice of staying at the college and completing their studies or going elsewhere. Four full-time equivalent posts at Totton are likely to be lost.

Problems at the college are understood to have begun last summer.

The number of students joining the campus was lower than expected, resulting in a £600,000 cut in the money it received from the Education Funding Agency.

The college hopes to join forces with another organisation in a bid to secure its future but suffered a major blow earlier this year when a planned merger with Eastleigh College fell through.

Last month saw the departure of the principal, Mike Gaston, who has since been replaced by Ms Landles.

The college is currently in talks with the National Association for the Care and Rehabilitation of Offenders (NACRO), which educates ex-convicts following their release from prison.

An Ofsted spokesperson said: “As long as a college provides education it is right that it should be eligible for inspection so that the way it meets learners’ needs can be evaluated.”