THE principal of a Basingstoke college said she “regrets” cuts which may see staff lose their jobs.

Speaking exclusively to The Gazette, Ali Foss revealed that Queen Mary’s College needs to save around £500,000 from a £10million budget because of a three per cent cut year-on-year to funding.

A restructuring process began in January putting jobs at risk but Ms Foss refused to reveal how many positions were in danger.

As previously reported in The Gazette, QMC was issued with a financial notice to improve from the Education Funding Agency (EFA) because its finances were deemed to be “inadequate”.

Ms Foss said: “As yet no compulsory redundancies have been made. We have been able to make savings through a combination of natural wastage, changes in hours and individuals taking voluntary redundancy.”

She claimed she was unable to say exactly how many jobs were at risk, because some staff work part-time hours.

In one department staff have been asked to apply for new roles, and Ms Foss said there were likely to be three or four redundancies there.

In two other departments Ms Foss said there would be a maximum of three jobs lost, but she added: “Depending on the circumstances, these may still be avoided.”

Staff are due to find out next week, following a consultation period.

Ms Foss said the college had been hit by funding cuts for 18-year-olds at college, announced by the EFA in December.

She also pointed out that colleges such as QMC were unfairly treated by having to pay VAT on goods and services, while schools and academies are reimbursed for these costs.

Ms Foss said: “If we had a VAT rebate it would cover our deficit. We would just like to be treated the same as the schools.”

The restructuring also means the college is having to look at the running of its facilities including Central Studio and QM Sports Centre.

But Ms Foss remains adamant that Central Studio will continue as a community theatre.

She explained the current performance timetable, which mainly features internal productions, is “normal” for this time of year, because students are using the theatre for exam performances.

She added: “The intention isn’t for it to be a college facility but to be a community facility. We need to take stock and look at what goes in there moving forward.”

Ms Foss stressed that cuts will not affect students, adding: “All of this is being done to protect the curriculum and the quality of teaching.

“The results have never been better and nothing we have done impacts on that at all.

“There isn’t anyone who isn’t a valued part of the college. I’m not making any cuts without regret.”

QMC owes £4.1m in agreed loans, which have helped fund £29m of infrastructure projects.

A new building for students on the autistic spectrum has just been built, due to open in September, but this has not come from college funds.

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