Luton & Dunstable fashion students thrown lifeline after Barnfield starts new courses

FASHION students stranded after a college cut some of its courses have been given a lifeline elsewhere.

Barnfield College, in New Bedford Road, will be offering diplomas, Higher National Certificates and Higher National Diplomas in Art from September this year.

There will also be an off-site course in sewing.

The news follows an announcement in June this year by Central Bedfordshire College which cut a number of courses and departments after the government reduced its funding because of low numbers.

Barnfield said students would be able to ‘showcase their designs, gain industry work placements and attend overseas fashion shows’.

The college, which is trying to rebuild its reputation following a damning government investigation last year, said the new offering would help ‘re-establish and reclaim the excellence’ from its previous years.

Dave Malachi, head of expressive arts at Barnfield, said: “We expect an amazing response and local interest in the renaissance of this popular curriculum area.”

Luton on Sunday understands a number of former Central Bedfordshire students have applied for positions on the new course.