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I was surprised to see Plumpton College described as a loser in the allocation of extra HE places for 1999-2000 ("Participation plans win extra places", THES, April 9).

We have been allocated exactly what we bid for, unlike many other colleges, so surely we are winners?

We have a small but successful HNC agriculture course, specialising in dairy management, which will effectively double in size with an additional ten HNC places in 1999 and another ten in 2000.

A more accurate measure would be the ratio of bid places to those allocated. Then you could highlight the real losers.

John Brookham

Principal Plumpton College, East Sussex