Strode College in Street is grappling with a serious challenge after the Department for Education (DfE) issued a 'Notice to Improve'.

The notice, a response to the college's handling of its subcontracted Traineeship programs from 2019 to 2022, and casts a shadow over future funding prospects.

This intervention by the DfE has thrust the college's financial management into the limelight, sparking concerns about the potential need to return previously allocated funds.

The situation has placed the college in a state of 'intervention', a move that mandates strict oversight by the DfE.

Under this intervention status, Strode College is required to adhere to stringent conditions to maintain its funding. These include obtaining approval for any new subcontracting plans and engaging in regular progress review meetings with the DfE.

These measures aim to keep the college on track with compliant and effective financial management practices.

Compounding the college's troubles is an impending assessment by the Further Education (FE) Commissioner. This independent review will be pivotal in deciding the college's future, potentially leading to significant changes in its operations and management.

Failing to meet the DfE's demands could be severe, potentially jeopardizing the college's operational capabilities and access to crucial funding.

These issues pertain to earlier years. Adding to the college's challenges was the difficulty in delivering the traineeship program during the COVID-19 pandemic, which posed unprecedented challenges for educational institutions, particularly in managing hands-on, practical programs like traineeships.

Principal John Revill from the college said: "In my first week at Strode I put a stop to subcontracting at the college, and five senior leaders who were involved in traineeship provision at a decision-making level have now left the organisation.

"A new chair is also in place, as well as a vice chair.

"This was a technical breach of the rules, which should have been spotted. But I'm struggling to see where that would have been picked up with the processes that were in place at the time.

"It is too early to say just how badly the clawback will impact the college. We're financially robust, we have money in the bank, but if the debt is a significant debt, then that would be a different conversation. The issue is a distraction and it really is business as usual for the college."