This is the way I witnessed the 'inevitable' closure of our City & Guild's course, affecting thirty plus adult students.Autumn term 2000: It was stipulated when we enrolled that we would sit a City & Guilds exam part I and II as 'this is not a recreational course'. A fully functional course of thirty day and evening students make steady progress to June exams. Morale and peer support good. Our dedicated tutor with industrial and twelve years teaching experience knows his subject inside out and cares. In December, we were moved from two ceramic studios with high temperature kilns. The university sold the building and it now stands empty.Spring term 2001: Transferred to a new 'purpose built' wing that services the degree courses. We were obviously not expected. We were not timetabled in the workroom, the studio had carpet - a health and safety risk - and there was no water supply. Equipment stood in the corridor. The kilns were not able to fire to the high temperatures required. The management was aware that the two courses were not compatible. C&G courses are technically demanding, working with base chemicals never touched by degree students and worked to a syllabus.
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