Students and staff at an FE college have sent a stark message to the government about cuts to FE funding by recording a protest song.

Chesterfield College staff and pupils sing a cover of Stephanie Mills’ Never Knew Love Like This Before, in which they replace the word “love” with “cuts” so that the lyrics become: “We never knew cuts like this before - further education’s on the floor.”

The song has been released ahead of national Colleges Week, in which thousands of staff and students are expected to descend on Westminster on Wednesday to protest over cuts in a union-organised day of action.

‘FE transforms lives’

Chesterfield College principal Julia Richards, who herself was a student at the college, said: “I know first hand how further education transforms lives across the UK. Funding cuts are denying out communities of the future they deserve, and our staff and students have sent their own personal message to government with a song.”

In the song, staff and students sing: “We are the future of this land, and united we will stand!” and “I was lost but now I’m found, the college has turned my life around.”  

The YouTube video is also part of the national Love Our Colleges campaign and highlights the fact that FE funding has fallen by 30 per cent since 2009. 

Growing pressure

The Westminster protest was organised in response to college teachers not receiving a government-funded pay rise - in contrast to school teachers - and is being organised by unions, including the University and College Union, Unison and the NUS students’ union.

Meanwhile, more than 16,000 people have so far signed a petition campaigning which has been by students at Brockenhurst College in Hampshire.

Once the petition reaches 10,000 signatures, the government are required to respond to it. At 100,000 signatures, it will be considered for debate in Parliament.