College announces merger with rival
JON MACPHERSON
ACCRINGTON and Rossendale College and Burnley College are set to merge under new plans.
Bosses said the merger would lead to a ‘financially robust, viable, suitable, sustainable and appropriate further and higher education curriculum offer across the local area’ and also provide ‘enhanced opportunities for students and employers’.
Both colleges will retain their current names.
The Observer reported earlier this year how the two major further educa- tion institutions were in discussions about ‘collaborating’ as part of a national college review.
A consultation has now been launched on the proposals which will come into effect from May 1, 2017.
Under the scheme the existing main campuses at both colleges, including the Broad Oak Campus in Accrington, will remain the same and ‘retain their existing names and local identities’.
In a joint statement the colleges said: “By merging, we will be better placed to engage with employers and ensure that students are ready for future of our new partnership. The new college will serve the local area and we want to ensure that it will meets the needs of all learners, the local community and other valued stakeholders.”
The colleges said a planned merger in May 2017 will ‘enable both institutions to make a strong start to the academic year 2017/18 from August 2017’.
The consultation will run until Thursday, January 12, 2017. The feedback will be reviewed by the governing bodies of both colleges at meetings in January. The outcome of the consultation will be published in February 2017 before a formal merger notice is published in April 2017.
To submit feedback email vj.spurgin@ burnley.ac.uk.