Sir,-Richmond upon Thames College was established in 1977 by the then Conservative local government. Although there were high hopes for the new college, I regret to say that these hopes have not been realised.

In a former role, the building was used to house a very successful college of technology. This college almost achieved Advanced Technology status. The college was wrecked by the Conservatives who turned a deaf ear to difficulties which were obvious even then.

In Israel, in the 1950s, the young nation needed all its adult manpower to build a new world. Children were reared in a community environment, called a kibbutz.

It was considered economical, both with the nation's resources and with those good at child rearing, to form such an organisation. Regretfully it didn't work.

Some children thrived in this environment but then they would have thrived anywhere. Some are born survivors.

However the potentially emotionally disturbed children fared badly, producing behaviour problems which were far worse than those from a normal upbringing.

Richmond upon Thames College is so large that it falls into the kibbutzian trap. Those who do well there would do well in a more conventional A level college.

Those who fail and those who cannot cope, fare badly. The bureaucratic burden on the lecturers is so high that they have no time to nurture the weak.

It is time that the situation was excised and I salute the local government which is courageously admitting that the college is a failure and that it is time to return to more successful methods.

In 1950, Shene College was a successful grammar school with a thriving sixth form for A level tuition, so was Hampton School, so was Clifden, so was Richmond County Grammar School for Girls. This method worked and it didn't need fixing!- Ian Pardington, sometime senior lecturer, Richmond upon Thames College.

April 30, 2003 15:30