I'm not disagreeing dvdr, but as you suggest that was in the past. Do you think a unit which is around 40 ATCOs short would still be looking to chop trainees ? I hold my hands up and admit that this may have been the case a few years ago, but today in my experience trainees are being given a lot of support, plenty of hours and more than a fair chance of validating.
Flowman, I would refer Fidgell to previous comments on TSF and making statistics say what you want them to say. Lies, damn lies and statistics.