GS
As you say, nice to see former students (sorry, they are now "trainees") standing up for the CATC system. I would not maintain that CATC is perfect - nowhere is, but Mine's a Double is quite correct. We should be looking at the whole system from Day 1 to validation. CATC is just a part of that system, and unless it is "seamless" and co-ordinated then there will be discontinuities which may adversly affect the trainees (and their long-suffering OJTI's).
The College (and the other ATC training establishments) teach what SRG say has to be taught. If this is not meeting unit requirements then there needs to be serious discussion between the interested parties. If the units are not taking freshly scrubbed trainees from the College and putting them straight into the validation training process then they are making life difficult for themselves and the trainees. Perhaps that aspect needs looking at as well. Some units are spectacularly bad at following up the CATC training with meaningful unit training. Others are very good.
One thing is certain, the system is not yet seamless or as near perfect as it could be. And if it does seem to be a bit "broke" surely we should be attempting to fix it in a constructive way, rather than destructively blaming one specific part of "the system".
Finally, never overlook the fact that CATC does not just service NATS units. The rating requirements are not simply for NATS personnel, they apply to anyone from anywhere in the UK who wants an ATC licence.