experienced a strike by members of the University and College Union (UCU) which lasted for 15 days during September and October. The strike began with a boycott of the college’s development day - Festival of Learning - on 1 July 2019. In protest, the UCU branch organised its own Festival of Yearning gathering outside of the Clarendon campus. The strike was a response to the college's intention to impose new staff contracts involving a potential reduction in pay, sick leave and holidays, with the threat of dismissal for those who refused to sign. Prior to the dispute-end in November 2019, a further 14 day period of action was planned and the college had asked Acas (Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service) to mediate. An online pamphlet was later created by retired union members which examines the dispute in context of the recent history of further education in the city, and gives an account of the dispute background before and during the strike action. The pamphlet title – containing the word "revolution" – is a reference to the then-CEO, John van de Laarschot's claim in a 2017 speech at the Local Enterprise Partnership D2N2 annual conference, partially published in local press, that under his leadership, "Nottingham College will lead a revolution" in the further education sector that would include "tough love" for youngsters without the skills employers wanted. In November 2021, John van de Laarschot announced his intention to leave the college "at the end of the year". Courses GCSEs Students can take or retake a GCSE subject with the college. A pass at Grade C is usually needed to progress to A-level and University level courses. A-level courses A-levels are the traditional entry route to universities, and a sixth-form college has been the option chosen by students that want, at 16, to leave the security and restrictions of a secondary school. There are entry requirements to each course, students must have evidence of success at GCSEs, and normally have a pass of Grade C or above in a related subject. They will study 3 or 4 subjects. Nottingham College offers over 20 popular subjects, including a limited range of languages and more specialised subjects. All the academic subjects are studied at High Pavement Sixth Form, though Art and Textiles at Stoney Street and Photography at the Adams Building. University-level courses Nottingham College offers a range of university-level courses at undergraduate level