parkfell,
you can't argue with that. Unfortunately, like most things, it's now driven largely by accountants, who don't really understand the value of 'Famil'.
When we went through in 1979-82, we even did a 13 week 'ATSA Familiarisation Course' at various operational units. We were given our student ATCO licences the first week we were at Hurn and I think I made my first supervised R/T transmissions about 7 weeks after starting. I don't think that happens today.
Out of the 33 of us who started, 30 passed, and 3 of those subsequently left to become airline captains.
I've just spotted your 'location indicator'....Enjoy the golf next month!