Waiting is over as colleges combine
SOUTHPORT’S two leading colleges have officially merged.
Proposals to merge Southport College and King George V College were first announced in 2015, and a public consultation displayed considerable support for the idea.
Following the successful consultation, the colleges began the process of finalising the legal and financial aspects of the merger - which was legally completed last Wednesday.
Each college will retain their existing identities as Southport College and KGV College, but will work together to share expertise and offer a comprehensive range of courses for the local community.
Under the leadership of one college management team and a board of governors, the merged college will continue to build on an already successful part- nership, driving forward the merged college vision, which is “to create excellent, sustainable post-16 education for Southport and surrounding areas.”
When the plans were first announced two years ago, the college leaders said that the merger would not mean any loss of funding or require students to share campuses.
Instead, bosses claimed, it would actually result in more investment and a wider curriculum being offered.
One of the main aims of the merger was to ensure no student felt they needed to leave Southport for the further education they wanted.
Southport College principal John Clarke said: “Our combined college has over 4,000 learners studying across two sites on a range of courses from school leaver programmes through to apprenticeships, higher education and adult learning provision.
“Last year’s advanced level results place KGV College and Southport College among the top performing colleges in the country – an achievement we are committed to maintaining this academic year.
“We have also already seen a considerable increase in applications from school leavers to study at our two college centres, cementing our place as the educational provider of choice for our community.”
Southport College chair of governors John Fell said he was positive about the merger, adding: “2017/18 has already been a great year for both Southport College and KGV College and we are looking for- ward to building upon this. Following a very positive recent Ofsted inspection at KGV College now is the right time to bring the two colleges together to work in partnership.
“We are committed to providing an outstanding learning experience for our students and securing the future of high quality further and higher education for Southport and the surrounding area.”