This paper explores the phenomenon of the 'failing' further education (FE) college. It does so through a detailed examination of the circumstances, mechanics and financial consequences behind one of the most prominent FE college 'failures' since incorporation of the FE sector in April 1993 - Bilston Community College. When Bilston apparently 'failed' it was castigated by the Labour government as an example of what happens when managements, governors and staff 'fail' to perform, and the college was duly closed in 1999 with many losses of both course provision and staff. In undertaking this examination, the paper details the relationship between the ubiquitous market ideology abroad in FE, the role of the former Further Education Funding Council, (retrospective) government policies, and some of the financial implications of closing an FE college. We conclude that the 'naming and shaming' policy initiated by the current government was at best a disingenuous response and at worst counterproductive in addressing what is a very real and continuing crisis within the UK post-compulsory education sector.
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Goddard-Patel et al. (2001) studied this question.
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