University of Reading slammed over closure of school of health and social care

The union is angry that the university has ignored the views of staff, students and experts in the field and pushed ahead with its plans that fly in the face of new government initiatives to help the beleaguered social work profession.

The university council voted 23 to 4 in favour of axing the department - with one abstention - despite its hugely successful social work, nursing and counselling courses at both undergraduate and postgraduate level. The government estimates that one in ten social work positions in the UK are currently unfilled and UCU says it fails to comprehend why a department that is not losing money and is so vital to national priorities has been shut.

Ann Quinn, who teaches at the school and is a UCU member, said: 'There is no logic behind this decision whatsoever. The school provides invaluable training and is completely self-sustaining. Closing this department is going to damage Reading's reputation. The UK is desperately short of social workers at the moment and Reading should be at the forefront of provision, not scaling things back. The government has made it quite clear that we need more, not less, support for social work in this country and Reading University seems intent on doing its best to undermine those plans.'

UCU general secretary Sally Hunt said: 'This decision makes a mockery of national and local priorities for social work. At a time when the UK is crying out for social workers why on earth has Reading closed this department? This is bad news for staff and students, and bad news for people who rely upon the services this department offers. Students on these courses received some of the best training in the country to work with some of the most vulnerable people in society. The British Association of Social Workers says this one closure could have a serious affect on the provision of social care. To lose this body of knowledge is nothing short of scandalous.

'After the shambolic closure of the physics department in 2006 we hoped we had seen the last of cuts from vice-chancellor Gordon Marshall that fly in the face of local and national priorities. It would appear we were mistaken. Nobody wanted this closure, apart from senior management, but many people will suffer because of it.'