Hi there,
I am asking this question for someone else, my son, who has buried his head in the sand and he has not done anything about the problem he now finds himself in. I want to give you the background information so you gain a better insight and understanding.
Dan moved schools to another 6th form following his then girlfriend but the relationship broke down in the first term. Dan hated his new school, spoilt kids with appalling attitudes to 'outsiders' in the school. He became to resent going to school, fell behind with his studies and had poor AS grades so redid his first year again.
During this time his dad was being treated for cancer. Dan lost his dad to cancer in 2014 while he was studying his A levels; he didn't get great grades but had studied Mathematics, Physics and Biology, his main strengths at school. Lots of other little things happened too (but big things to Dan) which left Dan with a negative attitude of himself and life. Very angry and quite obviously missing his dad.
Dan had worked in a hotel while he was studying his A levels and after doing bar work where he still works now.
It took his family and friends over two years to persuade Dan he needed to move on to a career, gain skills, he is very bright and we guided and advised where we could. It wasn't until this year, while his family were away on holiday, Dan took the step of going for an interview at a local college to study an access course to engineering. The co-ordinator recommended Dan to do the foundation degree instead because he felt Dan had the ability even though he had no direct experience in the engineering field. His family were delighted.
Dan missed the first enrollment week but went to the second week up until the last week of half term, so 5 weeks in all. The course was one 9 hour day per week for 2 years.
Dan had told us each week how much he loved studying Mathematics and science's again but Dan described how a couple of the lecturers asked students to use scenario type questions to find solutions. Dan said they always seemed to choose me, even though each day I tell more than one of them, I can't do that because I don't work in engineering. Dan was the only two in a group of 20 who did not work in or have experience in engineering. Each passing week Dan seemed less enthusiastic, saying how much these certain lecturers were upsetting him. Dan said I tell them every day, sometimes three times.
On the last day of term Dan came home and told us what had happened. Dan had asked the lecturer to clarify an equation written on the board as Dan felt the answer was incorrect. The lecture the started to ask the class as a whole to bring a topic back to the work place to find the solution. Of course he turned to Dan and asked him again;
Dan was shaking with anger and replied, "you know I work in a pub".
"Well it begs the question as to why you are here then?", the lecturer replied.
Shaking with silent anger Dan watched the other students turn to look at Dan, he described as they lowered their heads to face the desk.
Dan answered the lecturer back by saying, "which is why I am here so I can stop working in a pub Sir". Later In the midst of another conversation the lecturer turned to Dan and said, "yes you have a point".
So angry was Dan that he went straight to the course co-ordinator and told him what had happened and the background. He told Dan to put it in an email and he would follow the complaint up. "But I am surprised because we have very positive reviews back from students about this lecturer", the co-ordinator replied.
I telephoned the co-ordinator but I could only leave a message, I asked him to call me urgently I was concerned Dan would not come back to the course again; I asked him to talk to Dan to help prevent him leaving.
I left another message for the course co-ordinator, expressing my concern that Dan had made his mind up to leave already.
I left a third message for this co-ordinator telling him the difficulties Dan had been going through which had affected his confidence so much but how delighted we all when Dan had made this huge step, by himself too, he did the back ground reading, booked his interview and went while his family were away on holiday. And now because this lecturer decided Dan wasn't good enough for the course, humiliated Dan in front of his classmates and not just on one occasion. And there's me thinking teachers/tutors etc were meant to nurture, encourage and motivate students.
Another confidence knock for Dan, He was angry, disappointed and put off from any further education, college, uni anything.
Dan did not go back to college after half term and did not send the email. He felt their was no point, nothing would be done anyway. He did not speak to the co-ordinator again.
Dan has now been sent a bill for £4850 in course fee's. What should we do now? Is he bound to pay this, given what has happened? If the co-ordinator confirm's to payroll that Dan had finished in week 5? Is there a cooling off period?
I want to book to see the CAB next week, try to sort it out before the college breaks up.
Dan did not sign any papers but he does remember ticking a box on an on screen questionnaire.
I would be grateful to any of you who can help with advise please?
Thank you.