Telford colleges set to merge this summer
Two colleges look on track to merge later this year as formal talks get under way.
Telford College of Arts and Technology and New College Telford aim to be combined by August, it has been announced, as formal discussions get started.
Should the merger go ahead, New College Telford would be dissolved with a new governing body created to oversee the merged colleges as one organisation.
Under the plans, TCAT would be renamed Telford College and the colleges would combine to operate from a single site.
Martin Smith, interim principal at New College Telford, said: “We have a fantastic opportunity to combine forces with TCAT on a single site and develop a larger, stronger college.
“The merger will provide the long-term security of the college and ensures we are giving our students the best chance to achieve.”
Following area reviews and proposals that would benefit both organisations, both governing bodies gave the green light to begin merger plans.
It is a move which the colleges say will deliver benefits to students, staff and the local community.
The formal consultation process will run until April 21, with hopes for the merger to be completed on August 1.
Ian Clinton, interim principal and chief executive at TCAT, said: “The merger will provide more opportunities for students and employers to meet the need for higher level skills in the Telford and Wrekin area.
“We’ve had positive initial discussions and recognise this is an excellent opportunity for us to maximise the benefits to students and employers through combining the capabilities of both colleges on a single site, with additional capital investment.”
The proposal to start negotiations was unanimously agreed by governors earlier this month, and then by the shadow board this week.
Employees at both colleges have been informed, and further education commissioner, Richard Atkins CBE, has been sent a formal request by both organisations to support the merger.
The plans hope to improve the financial security of the newly formed college to "provide excellent teaching and learning, the best facilities and extracurricular opportunities" on a single site by the start of 2018/19.
The two schools also hope the plans will increase the capacity to work with employers in the Telford and Wrekin area.
People are being invited to three public meetings next week to question the leadership team and governors about the plans.
The first will be at the Park Lane Community Centre in Woodside on Monday, TCAT in Haybridge Road on Tuesday, and New College Telford on Wednesday. All meetings will start at 6pm.
