SPARSHOLT College has vowed to continue growing its student numbers despite a £1m cut in funding from Government.

The bold claim came as Whitehall officials slashed education spending by £60m, which also hit Winchester’s Peter Symonds College — it faces a £295,000 shortfall.

But the land-based college north-west of the city said it would risk a budget deficit next year to grow its pupil numbers by 46 per cent in Andover, and 36 per cent at its main Sparsholt campus.

Principal Tim Jackson said: “I would say if the college’s budget deficit is ongoing, that would be ludicrous, but if it’s a two-year programme to grow the college — especially at Andover —that’s okay.”

He said he would rather run the risk of a loss than turn students away from Sparsholt, many of whom would have nowhere else to study.

“The sort of people that Peter Symonds College turn away would have an alternative choice,” he said.

“The specialist provision we provide at Sparsholt you don’t get anywhere else.”

It’s the second financial blow for Mr Jackson in a matter of weeks. At the end of March the college revealed it could lose £1.3m in consultancy fees after the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) suspended funding for a redevelopment project.

He said to fund the growth in student numbers the college’s budget would have to be cut by four per cent next year, meaning less temporary administrative staff being hired.

He added: “I can’t give you any assurances but we will try to do everything possible to avoid redundancies.”

Meanwhile, Peter Symonds College has been told it will only receive money for 3,063 students for the 2009/10 academic year — 62 less than provisionally agreed earlier this year.

Neil Hopkins, principal of the college, confirmed he would not renege on pupils already offered a place in September, but that he would have to take a hard line on any new applications.

“There’s a £60m shortfall, which let’s face it, is two banker’s pensions,” said Mr Hopkins.

“This is in the context of fewer jobs being around and the Government encouraging people to stay in education longer.

“I do feel that colleges as a whole have been let down by this.

“I’m world-weary and bitter, but I have been in this job for too long to be angry.”

Martin Tod, the Liberal Democrat prospective parliamentary candidate for Winchester, said: “The Government and the LSC have completely messed this up.

“It is complete idiocy to be cutting funding for education as we go into a recession and youth unemployment is rising.”

His counterpart, Steve Brine, for the Conservatives, said: “As ever with this Government, it was a case of think of the headline first and check the reality of their announcement later.

“The result is excellent further education colleges such as Peter Symonds are now left to pick up the pieces and students are left in limbo.”