Send Clowns,
A whole course was sent home yes but not the way you describe it. A Middle Eastern airline who was to send eight cadets to Jerez pulled out at the last minute (rumour has it that there were problems with the level of English spoken) leaving four self sponsored guys. This clearly being a waste of resources - they were sent home, expenses paid, and suitably compensated. They are now back and merging with another course at the point they left off.
BA apparently sending a bunch of ab initios out here in a week or two.