THE impact of a policy which led to a dramatic decline in the number of Scots going to college has not been assessed, public spending watchdogs have found.

Audit Scotland said neither the Scottish Government nor the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) analysed the impact of changes aimed at boosting full-time courses for younger students at the expense of part-time courses.

The change has meant that, since 2007/08, student numbers at colleges have decreased by 41 per cent - with most of the reductions amongst women and those over 25.

A report by auditors said: “Neither the SFC nor the Scottish Government have analysed how the fall in part-time places and the focus on younger students have affected those who have not been able to get a place... and what they chose to do instead. There is currently no way to tell if these decreases... reflect a fall in demand.”

Audit Scotland also highlighted a drop in attainment and an increase in drop-out rates attributed in part to a nationwide programme of mergers which saw colleges cut from 37 to 20.

Caroline Gardner, the Auditor General, said: “The Scottish Government, SFC and colleges need to work together to improve their understanding of the demand for courses across the country and create long-term plans for how they will commit finances and staff to meet future need.”

Following the report, the Scottish Government’s record on further education came under fire from teaching unions, student representatives and opposition politicians.

Larry Flanagan, general secretary of the Educational Institute of Scotland, said: “We have repeatedly warned the merger process has sometimes been misused to provide cover for unnecessary cuts to staffing, courses and student places Of particular concern is the cut in the number of students older than 25.”

Vonnie Sandlan, president of NUS Scotland, said the focus on full-time courses posed a “real risk” of excluding students who most deserved a place, but were not able to study full-time.

Tavish Scott, education spokesman for the Scottish Liberal Democrats, said the figures showed reforms had made it more difficult for people to access further education.

And Iain Gray, Scottish Labour’s education spokesman, said the SNP had made a “complete and utter mess” of college reorganisation.

However, Shirley-Anne Somerville, the Minister for Further Education, said the government had a strong record on colleges.

She said: “The report shows reforms have led to a 14 per cent increase in people under-25 on full-time courses. Refocussing our resources on courses that will best prepare people to get a job was one of the major objectives of our reform programme.

“Since 2006/07 the number of women studying full-time courses in colleges is up by 16 per cent and, as Audit Scotland notes, the gender balance in Scotland’s colleges is broadly equal.”

The Audit Scotland report went on to state that at least 82 per cent of students who left in 2013/14 went on to a positive destination such as further training or a job and almost 90 per cent were satisfied with their experience.

But it took issue with an SFC report earlier this week which concluded the merger process had led to more than £52m in annual savings compared to a delivery cost of nearly £70m.

Audit Scotland said savings had arisen “mainly” from sector-wide cuts in funding while other significant costs, such as the harmonisation of pay, had not been factored in. The overall financial health of the sector was “relatively stable”, but the colleges of Edinburgh, Moray, North Highland and Lews Castle were facing challenges.