Cautious welcome from union over Shropshire college mergers

It was initially proposed that New College in Wellington would also join the merger.

But after consultation, the college has withdrawn from the plans and is instead looking to join forces with Telford College of Arts and Technology.

Union representatives today cautiously welcomed the news, but say they still have concerns over the future of provision of courses in both Telford and Shrewsbury.

The decision has been made following a public discussion, with changes at TCAT making a merger between the two Telford colleges possible.

Change to the original plans have now been endorsed through the Government's Area Review process, and the merger between Shrewsbury College, in London Road, and Shrewsbuy Sixth Form College, in Abbey Foregate, will continue as scheduled on July 31.

The new merged colleges will then be named the Shrewsbury Colleges Group.

Steve Wain, principal of Shrewsbury College, said: "This is a great outcome for Shrewsbury.

"The merger between Shrewsbury Sixth Form College and Shrewsbury College secures the future of post compulsory education and ensures we remain distinctive.

"We are committed to both colleges retaining their separate identities as a vocational college and a sixth form college."

Martin Ward, principal of Shrewsbury Sixth Form College, added: "This is a positive step forward for both colleges and we look forward to the growing opportunities it presents for the educational future for students in Shrewsbury."

New College in Telford today says it wants to explore a tie-in with TCAT instead. The college says the change of plan has been prompted by feedback from a review of further education facilities across the region – as well as views expressed in an ongoing public consultation, and by many New College students.

Jo Lomax, interim principal at TCAT, also in Wellington, said: "We're delighted to have begun talks with the New College management team.

"This is an exciting opportunity for both colleges to benefit from each other's expertise.

"The needs of students are the most important factor in all of this, and we feel that a merger between Telford College and New College would be in the best interests of learners in the Telford & Wrekin borough.

"Not only will it add an excellent sixth form provision to the TCAT portfolio, it will also open up our state-of-the-art vocational training programmes to New College learners.

"And with our campuses already within walking distance, there would be no transport-related disruption to students."

She said TCAT's newly restructured management team had formed a much closer working relationship with New College in recent weeks, adding: "It has become increasingly clear that this is a merger which makes sense on many levels, and that there is enthusiasm on both sides to see if we can make it happen.

"New College would have access to the vocational expertise and the facilities here at TCAT, and we would be able to use our long-standing links with local employers to help boost the New College apprenticeships offering."

New College principal Fiona O'Brien said it had also become clear that a merger between New College and TCAT was the preferred option of the panel involved in a current review of further education across the Marches region.

She said: "Their view is also supported by Telford & Wrekin Council and the local business board who agree that this option would be in the best interests of Telford students.

"This is why we have taken the decision to change our preferred merger partner – a move which has not been made lightly, and has only been taken after close consultation with our governors, unions and partners.

Shropshire NUT welcomed the announcement, but said that although it addresses some of its concerns, there are still worries for the future.

Jean Evanson, NUT representative and Shropshire district secretary, said: "We did have some concerns over travel between Shrewsbury and Telford so it is positive that we now have a Shrewsbury and Telford solution. Obviously we are keen to see that there is a full variety of provision both in Shrewsbury and Telford."

Mrs Evanson had previously voiced concerns about how the three-college merger might affect Telford College of Arts and Technology, which is currently the main provider of vocational courses in the borough.

She said: "For TCAT this is offering a more sensible solution, though the situation in Telford is still uncertain.

"We also hope all the colleges maintain a reasonable presence with adequate staffing levels, small class numbers. There are still a lot of questions to be answered.

"A short consultation is still ongoing and we would encourage people to put forward their views."

There is an opportunity for people to comment on this proposal between April 21 and May 2 by using the email account publicconsultation@ssfc.ac.uk