Three Shropshire colleges urged to 'come clean on merger bid'
Bosses at three colleges in Shropshire have been urged to "come clean" to parents and staff on rumoured merger plans.
About 50 worried parents and staff met with union chiefs at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital to discuss the future at Shrewsbury College, Shrewsbury Sixth Form College and New College in Telford.
Last summer it was announced that the corporations at the colleges were entering into talks about a federation between the three as a means of joint working and cost saving.
But rumours are now circulating that Shrewsbury College and New College are discussing a formal merger which could see courses concentrated on to a single site.
The principals of both colleges have issued a joint statement insisting it is too soon to say whether a merger will take place and that discussions are still at a very early stage.
But speaking after the meeting Paul Morris, National Union of Teachers (NUT) representative at New College, said news of a merger had come as a surprise because they had consistently been told all three colleges would retain governing bodies and management teams.
He said: "We are very anxious that whatever happens we protect the variety and breadth of education on offer in Shropshire, especially with the rumours of a merger between Shrewsbury College and New College. We can't find out anything.
"You would have thought they would have wanted to talk to us before coming up with this sort of thing."
It is a very worrying time and we will be calling on the colleges involved to come clean about what is being proposed and soon, and to enter a proper consultation with all the parties involved."
In a joint statement from New College and Shrewsbury College, principals Fiona O'Brien and Steve Wain said a proposal had been made by New College to discuss a potential merger and it was "currently being considered". They said discussions were "still at an early stage".
The statement added: "Our staff have been kept informed throughout.
"This initial work is currently under way and our staff colleagues will be the first to know what proposals will be forthcoming at the time when that is known.
"As soon as all colleges involved are able to enter into full consultation with staff and all relevant stakeholders, including parents and students, we will do so.
"We are already talking to potential students and their parents and assuring them that whatever course they apply to for September 16, they will start and finish their course at the college they applied to."
