Croydon College has joined national criticism of the Government's funding plans.

The college is calling on staff, students and people in Croydon to sign a petition launched by the Association of Colleges (AoC) against a funding system it says damages adult education as it could lead to fee increases or course cancellations.

On July 13 the Croydon Guardian reported the college was looking to make 99 redundancies after it found itself having to save £3million.

The college has been unable to recruit its target number of 16-18-year-old students and, unlike previous years, it says it is not able to make up the shortage in money by recruiting more adult learners.

Mariane Cavalli, principal and chief executive, said: "The change in Government funding priorities presents the college with a real challenge to ensure we are able to be flexible in responding to market demand and the latest Government targets."

She added: "As someone who has benefited from studying as an adult, myself and my colleagues are doing all we can to protect provision as we value every student in the community."

A spokesman for the Learning and Skills Council (LSC), the body which plans and funds 16-18 education, said: "Croydon College was not able to recruit as many 16-18- year-old learners for whom allocated funding was intended. It is unfortunate that this occurred when the demand to support the Government priority of 16-18 learners in London has never been higher."

She said more money had been earmarked for Croydon College to try and reduce the impact of the changes and said the LSC will continue to look at ways to help.

For more information go to www.aoc.co.uk.