REPRESENTATIVES from the student union have vowed to fight the decision and have organised a petition and protest march on April 27 starting at Weymouth College at 12.15pm and walking into town to St Thomas Street.

Weymouth college student union presidents Abbi Taylor, 20, and Laura Smith, 19, and student union representatives AJ Phillips, 22, and Chris Jones, 22, said the student body had been left feeling ‘angry, saddened and disappointed’ but determined to fight.

Each of the students shared their reasons for fighting to keep A-levels.

Abbi has a young child and said that the college had really supported her and because of their support she was looking forward to going to university to study medicine or maths.

She said: “I’m really angry and saddened by the decision. Where will mature students go? They can’t go to Budmouth College. It’s not fair on people that want to get an education.

“We are going to fight this for future generations.”

Laura said that she had tried going to sixth form but that it hadn’t worked for her and Weymouth College had been the only other place she could go.

She said: “It isn’t the right way to solve the problem of people not applying for A-levels.

“We are going to fight this for the students and the staff.”

Chris suffers with ADHD and said that the college had helped him and he was now looking to go into the Navy.

He said: “Most universities and armed forces need A-levels to get in. Without Weymouth College there’s no way I would have been able to start my career again.”

AJ, who has dyslexia, said that the college had supported him. He said: “Weymouth College is how I’m getting back on track and without them I wouldn’t be able to do it because of my age.”

A Facebook group has been set up by the student union – search for Keep A-levels at Weymouth College. There is also a petition that students can sign.

To email an application letter for A-levels next year contact Abbi Taylor or Laura Smith at supresident@weymouth college.ac.uk or get in contact via the Facebook page.