May I thank Councillor Alambritis for his letter (Adult education needs more funds, April 2). He makes the point very well that the staff and student-led SCOLA (Sutton College of Learning for Adults) is phenomenally successful.

Sutton is a smaller borough than Merton yet with vision and imagination has led the way in working in partnership with staff, students, local businesses and community leaders to create an institution which is double the size of MAE and commands a 98% satisfaction rating among its students.

SCOLA offers courses mapped to Sutton’s priorities. To prepare for employment it offers: apprenticeships and traineeships,  GCSE English and maths and functional skills, health and social care and childcare courses, teaching assistants and teacher training, book keeping and accounting - AAT,  IT and Digital Design and the list goes on. In addition it offers a wide range of arts and crafts courses, modern languages and local and national history courses.

The college is rooted in the borough and sees its mission as serving all the local communities. In particular It is to be applauded for its emphasis on courses to support students with learning difficulties and disabilities preparing for work and independence.

This is what I want for Merton.

This is what I will work to make a reality if I am successful on 7th May.

Shas Sheehan

Parliamentary Candidate for Wimbledon, Morden, Raynes Park and Motspur Park