The decision to scrap all modern language and history A-levels at the college means that next year there will be just two schools in the deprived inner-city borough offering A-levels in those subjects.

The entire programme of counselling courses - which trains 150 people a year to work with local agencies as bereavement, alcohol and school counsellors - is also being abandoned.

One member of staff said: “This is supposed to be community college and we are serving the community in a practical way. They don’t seem to realise the effect this will have.”

Up to 20 lecturers are facing the sack and senior lecturers will have to reapply and compete with each other for their jobs.

Union members at the college have described the cuts as “educational vandalism” and Dave Rose, of the lecturers’ union NATFHE, accused college management of a failure to consult.

A college spokesperson said: “Courses will only be minimally affected with a few closures where student numbers are low.”