Shropshire Star

Union reps to hold meeting over Shropshire college merger plans

Teaching union representatives are hosting a public meeting to outline their concerns over plans to merge three colleges in Shropshire.

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The meeting, which is being organised by members of the NUT, NASUWT, ATL, UCU, and UNISON, will take place at the Lord Hill Hotel, Abbey Foregate, Shrewsbury, at 6.30pm on Monday, February 8.

It has been organised in reaction to proposals to merge Shrewsbury Sixth Form College, Shrewsbury College, and New College, Telford.

A consultation on the merger opened on Monday, but Jean Evanson, NUT Representative at Shrewsbury Sixth College, said they believe the process could damage the education provided for students.

She said: "While we understand that the Government's financial cuts are placing enormous pressures on colleges, we do not believe that such a shotgun marriage is putting the interests of students where they should be - first.

"We are hugely concerned that the merger will damage the future prospects of our youngsters rather than enhance them.

"Experience from around the country where such mergers have taken place, like Scotland, shows us that there is a strong chance that all that will be accomplished by such a process is less student choice, staff redundancies and higher salaries - or pay offs - for senior managers."

She also voiced concerns that the merger could lead to cuts in courses, bigger class sizes, and the need for students to travel between sites.

Paul Morris from New College in Telford urged people interested in the issue to attend the meeting a voice their feelings.

He said: "We have been very heartened by the reaction of the people of Shropshire who can see the issues very clearly and share our worries.

"Now we are calling on all concerned with the future of education in the county to join us on Monday and make their voices heard before it is too late."

The merger proposal is for New College Telford and Shrewsbury College to merge into Shrewsbury Sixth Form College, creating one large sixth form college group - with all three sites remaining.

In a joint statement, the principals of all three colleges, Martin Ward of Shrewsbury Sixth Form College, Fiona O'Brien of New College Telford, and Steve Wain of Shrewsbury College, said the move would allow them to provide "better learning experiences" and safeguard the future of their organisations.

They said: "We believe merger presents the three colleges with the best opportunity to offer a great curriculum with high quality, whilst keeping our finances strong. The Corporations of Shrewsbury College, New College Telford and Shrewsbury Sixth Form College, believe that the joining of three local colleges, will create a better learning experience and more progression opportunities for Shropshire's students, than they can do apart."

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