Students left stranded as creative courses scrapped
BBCA college in Nottingham is cutting all of its level one and level two courses from September after its funding was reduced.
Confetti Institute of Creative Technologies is a specialist creative college which offers teaching in subjects including games technology, technical events, music performance and songwriting.
The college forms part of Nottingham Trent University which said due to the reduction in funding and allocated student numbers it "had no choice but to make the difficult decision".
The move has upset students and prompted an online petition calling for "immediate action" to mitigate the impact being signed by more than 390 people.
Level one creative industries student Hermione started the petition after she was told by email her course would no longer be running.
" I just cried," said the 17-year-old who travels to Confetti from her home in Grantham.
"This has been my dream college since I was back at school."
The students said they were only informed on 25 June and that finding a place at another college for September was proving difficult.
"Not many colleges are taking people in now until next summer but we can't wait until next summer," said Hermione.
"It's either the courses are full or they're closing down their own courses. I don't know where my future's going to go. I'm very terrified."
Max said he felt "really annoyed" when he was told the courses were being cancelled.
The 17-year drummer travels from Loughborough to study level one creative industries at the college.
"It's a really late notice thing and I'm struggling to find another college to get into," he said. "It's just terrible timing."
Level one and two qualifications include GCSEs and national vocational qualifications.
Some level three courses require applicants to have completed a level two qualification.
"Everyone gets into level one so that they can get to level two and everyone who gets into level two wants to get to level three," said Max.
A spokesperson from Nottingham Trent University said it was "working with local authorities and college partners to support all those impacted and help them find suitable alternatives.
They added: "Last month, our lead FE provider, Access Creative College, told us without any prior notice that they were reducing our allocated student numbers and funding for September 2025 entry.
"We have made clear to ACC that this is unacceptable and would have a detrimental impact on current and future learners. They have refused to change their decision.
"Accordingly, we have had no choice but to make the difficult decision not to offer level one and two courses at Confetti from September 2025."
The Department for Education said ACC - a national independent training provider - had reduced Confetti's funding by about 300 students.
Access Creative College said: "Further education is currently a challenging funding landscape and we do not take the decision lightly to reduce allocated student numbers.
"While this is a difficult moment for Confetti applicants, we are working closely with all relevant stakeholders to ensure that affected individuals receive the support they need during this period."
The Department for Education told the BBC that Confetti was working with colleges in Nottingham, Mansfield and Derby to ensure enough places were offered to all affected students, where possible.
It added that Confetti had been engaging with local authorities and Futures Advice, Skills and Employment to provide careers advice.
Both Hermione and Max love studying at Confetti and would like to continue there.
"It's the only place I can find where I get to do what I love," said Max. "It's rare to find."
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