AN angry dad staged a protest outside Mid Cheshire College yesterday, Tuesday, over his daughter's expulsion.

Robert Jennings stood outside the college for three hours with an enormous banner warning students about the way his 18-year-old daughter, Joanne, has been treated.

He claims that she was expelled because of his grievance with the college when a teacher lost Joanne's coursework.

Now Mr Jennings intends to stand outside and protest every week until his daughter is allowed back in to continue her studies in childcare.

"A teacher lost Joanne's coursework in August last year," he explained, "and when my daughter asked the tutor to have a second look for it she said she was too busy.

"So I contacted the teacher myself and she promised to look for the work, but she never got back to me, despite the fact I rang her three times.

"In January I went to see the principal and the moment I said I was taking the complaint above him to the chairman of governors or the Further Education Council, he said he would expel my daughter.

"Soon after we received a letter saying she had been expelled because of a 'breakdown in communications and trust between teacher, student and parent'."

Mr Jennings emphasised that he does not have any complaint about the standard of education at the college.

He explained: "I have no arguments about the quality of teaching at the establishment. My only complaint is that my daughter has been unfairly expelled. If she is allowed back into college that will be the end of it.

"This is my own personal demonstration because time is ticking and I want her to be able to go back to college. The principal is prepared to ruin my daughter's career and it's not fair."

Joanne added: "I have done nothing wrong. I have already studied for a Certificate in Childcare Education and I got really good grades. The majority were distinctions and merits.

"Now I would like to continue with my work for an NNEB. But I'm not able to and instead I'm being penalised for a teacher that has lost my work."

John Howard, principal of Mid Cheshire College in Hartford, commented on Joanne's expulsion.

He said: "I am fully aware of the concerns expressed by Mr Jennings on behalf of his daughter Joanne. The matter has been dealt with through the College complaints procedure and is being further considered by the regional office of the Further Education Funding Council.

"I would anticipate a response by the Further Education Council in the near future."

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.