College pleased with outcome of court case

I refer to your report (November 11) of the outcome of the case between Warnborough College and the Higher Education and Training Awards Council (HETAC). The report was not entirely factual and and left out some important details. Warnborough College was obliged to seek leave for a judicial review against HETAC’s decision not to agree quality assurance procedures.

HETAC’s decision was based not only on the quality assurance manual submitted but on miscellaneous accompanying paperwork. The college enquired about an appeals procedure but was informed that no such procedure existed.

HETAC’s external panel report contained a statement that it would “not deal with Warnborough College or related entities for the foreseeable future”. Therefore, the college had no alternative but to seek justice in the courts. We were pleased with the outcome of the case. A new appeals procedure has been created by HETAC. Judge Gilligan ordered that a new application be submitted and that the old one be disregarded. HETAC was also ordered all costs. The college decided to drop its case for a judicial review. We look forward to working with HETAC towards the eventual conclusion of our accreditation process.