Ofsted blames 'inept' funding body for debt crisis at college

The "inept" management of a government education quango plunged a London college into crisis, inspectors have found.

In a devastating report, Ofsted blamed "grave financial mismanagement" at the Learning and Skills Council for leaving Brooklands College millions of pounds in debt.

The college spent £11.5million on architects and builders' fees in the expectation that LSC money for its £75million rebuilding programme would follow. But the LSC withheld the funds after the Government's national college rebuilding scheme, which it managed, was found to be billions of pounds over budget.

More than 160 A-level students now face being thrown off their courses next summer with a year still to run, as the college is forced to consider selling its campus in Ashford, west London.

Brooklands' principal Colin Staff has resigned and a temporary team of managers has taken over.

A spokeswoman for the LSC said it had held meetings with Brooklands to address the problems.