PROPOSED MERGER - RESPONSE TO PUBLIC CONSULTATION

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1 PROPOSED MERGER - RESPONSE TO PUBLIC CONSULTATION Paston Sixth Form College and City College Norwich Vision for the future of outstanding Post-16 Education in North East Norfolk Date of Issue: 22 September 2017

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3 Foreword Both Paston Sixth Form College and City College Norwich would like to thank everyone who has taken the time to respond to the Public Consultation on the proposed merger. Feedback was in favour of the proposal which confirms our decision to seek to achieve the merger on 1 December The Public Consultation is an important and integral part of our proposed merger. We have been extremely pleased with the responses received which will help with the process of merging the two Colleges. We have been satisfied that the Consultation gave everyone in the community an opportunity to respond. We have listened to the positive, negative and neutral comments and all the advice given, which will help to shape our future plans. It is important that we continue to listen to your views and both the Principals will therefore make themselves available to meet stakeholders and members of the public who wish to talk through our merger proposals. Dates are on the website We remain committed to bring about the benefits we anticipate for students, staff, employers, stakeholders and Norfolk s education system as a whole. From Matt Colmer Chair of City College Norwich Corporation Nicola Lucking Chair of Paston Sixth Form College Corporation Vision for the future of outstanding Post-16 Education in North East Norfolk 3

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5 Executive summary The vision for the merged College is the consolidation of best practice of Paston Sixth Form College and City College Norwich to deliver high quality education, training and skills development for the benefit of current and prospective students, other stakeholders and the wider community. The merger will provide an opportunity to increase and enhance the choice and breadth of A levels, vocational courses and FE programmes. Strong executive leadership from the merged College will support managers based at Paston to ensure quality and the student experience is maintained and enhanced and the links with North Walsham and North Norfolk are strengthened. It will create a resilient organisation that is financially sustainable and serves the local community in North Walsham, Norwich and North East Norfolk. As part of the type B merger process, a formal public consultation into proposals to merge the two institutions took place between 22 June and 22 July The level of response demonstrated the support and value placed on both Paston Sixth Form College and City College Norwich, with 159 people taking the time to respond and share their views. The vast majority of responses were received via the online survey. Feedback has been received from a wide range of stakeholders, from staff and students through to local business owners and community members. Some respondents were responding on a personal basis and some on behalf of organisations. It also supports the recommendation made in the Norfolk and Suffolk Area Review Final Report, published by the Department for Education (DfE) in August This report concluded that the merger of Paston Sixth Form College with City College Norwich will ensure that provision can be maintained and enhanced in North Norfolk. It marks the formal end to the national two-year area review process, designed to result in "financially viable, sustainable, resilient and efficient colleges." Ten respondents were neutral or undecided on whether the two institutions should merge, but still took the time to put forward their views and questions. While 68 respondents did not support the proposed merger, we have taken into account all of the comments received during the consultation process, both positive and negative, and these will be used to inform our detailed planning of the merged College. It was reassuring to note that the key themes and questions raised through the Public Consultation were all subjects which the two Colleges had already recognised and considered as part of ongoing talks. The shared aim remains to be able to preserve and develop the excellent academic provision of Paston Sixth Form College and the muchvalued technical and vocational training of City College Norwich, while maintaining a more solid financial footing in the face of significant reductions in public-sector funding. Overall, more than half (81 respondents) were in favour of the proposed merger. This positive feedback has reaffirmed our ambition to complete the merger by 1 December Vision for the future of outstanding Post-16 Education in North East Norfolk 5

6 The consultation process Paston Sixth Form College and City College Norwich held a Public Consultation from 22 June to 22 July 2017 on proposals to merge the two institutions to create a resilient and financially sustainable organisation that will widen the educational offer for existing and prospective students, employers and the community in North East Norfolk. The Consultation document Vision for the Future of Outstanding Post-16 Education in North East Norfolk set out: Rationale for change Key facts about the merger proposal Our shared vision Strategic benefits Student Voice Consultation process Timescale for merger Indicative list of stakeholders to be consulted Statutory Consultation Notice issued by Paston Sixth Form College How to respond to the Consultation The Public Consultation document was made widely available to all staff, students, including prospective students, parents, stakeholders, and the local community. People were invited to submit their responses via post, or through the online survey. Ongoing consultations and discussions with staff, working closely with relevant trade unions, have also been conducted separately, alongside the Public Consultation. The responses were collated and administered independently by FOUR Agency. This report collates and summarises the responses to the Public Consultation and addresses the key themes raised. This report should be read in conjunction with the Public Consultation document as it refers directly to areas within the document. The FAQs on the website have also been updated to answer additional questions raised through the Consultation responses. Vision for the future of outstanding Post-16 Education in North East Norfolk 6

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8 Consultation respondents In total 159 people took the time to participate in the Public Consultation, with 149 people responding via the online survey, 7 via , 2 via post and 1 open letter published in the North Norfolk News. Two late entries were received via the online survey, after the closing date on 22 July. They were both in support of the merger, but have not been included in the overall total. The total number of responses describing themselves and their organisation Other 26% Staff & Corporation Members 26% 26% Staff and Corporation Members (41) 20% Students/former students (32) 15% Parents (24) 7.5% Employers/local businesses (12) 5.5% Local residents (9) 26% Others Education/Local Government and other general organisations (41) Parents 15% Employers/local businesses 7.5% Local residents 5.5% Students/former students 20% Vision for the future of outstanding Post-16 Education in North East Norfolk 8

9 Response to consultation questions QUESTION 1 Do you support the proposal for the merger of Paston Sixth Form College and City College Norwich? 81 in support (51%) 68 against (43%) 7 neutral/undecided (4%) 3 did not respond (2%) No 43% Neutral/undecided 4% Did not respond 2% Yes 51% There was overall support for the merger 51% compared to 43% against the proposal. Those in favour clearly outlined many of the benefits proposed in the shared vision set out in the Consultation document. There was a clear understanding that the two Colleges create a larger more resilient organisation which can safeguard A Level provision but also increase provision and progression routes in other areas such as vocational areas and adult education provision. Those against the merger expressed a number of specific concerns including: leadership and management at Paston impact on academic excellence worries in case education provision is withdrawn impact of merger on students and staff impact on the local economy of North Walsham. These have been considered in detail and are addressed in the themes set out on page 14 as well as in the expanded FAQs on the website. Vision for the future of outstanding Post-16 Education in North East Norfolk 9

10 This is a unique opportunity for both parties involved to support access for quality further education for individuals in the County. All working together towards the same goals. Member of staff The merger is a sensible, pragmatic solution to severe funding pressures currently experienced in the FE sector. I support the merger as it will enable Paston to continue to serve students of North Walsham and beyond with an expanded offer that will benefit from the vocational/technical expertise of City College Norwich. Principal of a Suffolk College North Norfolk District Council recognises the financial and organisational challenges of providing a broad academic and vocational curriculum to a relatively small cohort of students across a large rural area such as that served by Paston College. The Council therefore recognises and supports the principles outlined in the consultation document which seek to retain and increase student choice in course provision at North Walsham through Paston College becoming part of a larger further and higher education organisation. Corporate Director and Head of Paid Service, North Norfolk District Council QUESTION 1b Do you support the proposed dissolution of Paston Sixth Form College? 77 in support 49% 72 disagreed 45% 8 did not specify answer 5% 2 did not respond to the question 1% No 45% Did not specify 5% Did not respond 1% Yes 49% Vision for the future of outstanding Post-16 Education in North East Norfolk 10

11 QUESTION 1c Do you support the name Paston College for the North Walsham Site? 111 in support 70% 37 disagreed 23% 9 did not specifically answer 6% 2 did not respond to the question 1% No 23% Did not specify 6% Did not respond 1% Yes 70% Overall, 49% supported the proposal to dissolve Paston Sixth Form College and supported the merger. This was slightly more than the 45% who were against. This reflected the number supporting the overall proposal. In terms of the name, it was very clear that 70% supported the name Paston College for the North Walsham site. I believe it to be important that the Paston identity should not be lost, given its historic link with the community in both North Walsham and further afield. I support strongly that the North Walsham campus should continue with the name of Paston College to reflect the continuity of provision and to ensure students, parents and carers understand that the sixth form college ethos, which has made the College so successful, will be maintained. It will be critical any new structures are devised to ensure that any changes do not inadvertently damage the quality of what is currently provided. I don t feel the proposed name Paston College shows any links to City College Norwich or gives a uniformed identity once the merger takes place. The full name of City College Norwich is Norwich City College of Further and Higher Education and that will remain the formal name of the combined organisation. However, Paston College at North Walsham will retain the strong Paston brand which is clearly understood by the local community and which the majority of the respondents wished to retain. Nevertheless we must move forward to reflect the ever changing education landscape. The combined organisation will continue to develop the future strategic direction working closely alongside all stakeholders including local community groups. Vision for the future of outstanding Post-16 Education in North East Norfolk 11

12 QUESTION 2 Are there any particular features of the proposed merger on which you would like to comment so as to assist us in further planning? 82 respondents answered this question and all comments, both positive and negative, will be used to inform our detailed planning of the merged College. This section produced a range of very interesting views which will help to shape the future direction of the institution. The leadership of the combined organisation, working closely with teaching and support staff want to achieve the goal of an Ofsted Outstanding rating moving from a base where both existing Colleges are Good. It is clear the combined larger institution will have more resources and opportunities to position itself towards achieving this outcome. Staff across the merged institution can work together, sharing ideas and expertise which will lead to future improvements. A large number of respondents supported the curriculum development proposals set out in the Consultation document. There was a clear demand to increase vocational opportunities in North East Norfolk in order to meet the needs of students particularly on Level 1 and 2 programmes. This is one of the many benefits which will result from merging with City College Norwich to develop such programmes, creating a wider range of progression routes to Level 3 and beyond to higher education. This can benefit students in the area who have had to travel long distances to access these courses. It will also allow closer links with employers and employer skills needs across Central and North East Norfolk. This development was supported by a range of business people in the area, through the Consultation document. A number of those who responded wanted to see an increase in the provision for adult education in the area. This can be achieved through the merger, with opportunities developed to incorporate access courses to higher education and other skill based courses. Finally, a number of respondents wanted Paston College to increase the use of its facilities for the community use in the evenings. A larger institution will now have the capacity to take this on board and work with the local community to better utilise the Paston College site. Overall, both Colleges welcomed the constructive views put forward which will help shape the strategic direction of the proposed combined organisation over the next few years. Staff, students and Corporation members are extremely positive about the future opportunities this will create. Vision for the future of outstanding Post-16 Education in North East Norfolk 12

13 QUESTION 3 How might you or your organisation be involved in or support the merger? 36 people responded to this question. The support offered ranged from stakeholder support through to parents and students offering to provide opinions and feedback throughout the process. We would be happy to support the merger by providing support to help the merged Colleges continue to strengthen links with local employers, and potentially provide support for capital developments. New Anglia LEP As a University serving our local and regional communities we would want to work with the merged College to provide progression opportunities to higher education, collectively working to addressing the local skills agenda; giving opportunities to students and their families. University of Suffolk In line with our challenge and support for all providers, we would like to extend an offer of support for the merger through the offices of our various teams in Education Services, Children s Services, Adult Services and Community and Environmental Services. We will be pleased to assist with decisions and processes involved in the coming months and post-merger. Norfolk County Council Children s Services Vision for the future of outstanding Post-16 Education in North East Norfolk 13

14 Key themes from responses The Consultation also provided the opportunity for respondents to make any further comments relevant to the plans or to expand upon their previous answers. There were some common themes which emerged from these responses and these are addressed below. Additional questions were also raised and these have been addressed through the updated FAQs section on the website. Heritage, identity and the reputation of Paston I believe it to be important that the Paston identity should not be lost, given its historic link with the community in both North Walsham and further afield. It is important to note that the vision for the new institution is to create a merged College which consolidates the excellent practices at both Paston Sixth Form College and City College Norwich. The Paston College Foundation will retain a strong association with the merged College as Landlord of part of the Paston site. It will work closely with the new combined institution to preserve the strong heritage, identity and reputation of Paston. Paston has gone through a number of changes in its history, while maintaining its heritage, identity and traditions, and this is another phase in its development. The merged College has shown in the shared vision it has clear plans to enhance and extend the curriculum which will require both sites at Paston to be fully functioning. There are no current plans to sell off The Lawns or The Griffons sites nor to reduce the strategic educational importance of Paston in North Walsham and the North East Norfolk area. Although this was a common concern, the new institution is extremely aware of the heritage, identity and reputation of Paston. There are very clear ambitions to enhance overall provision, develop student numbers and invest in the infrastructure of both sites. Both The Lawns site and The Griffons site are essential to the future success of the College. Impact on the future of academic and vocational provision It s important that student provision in North Walsham and North Norfolk as a whole doesn t become less as a result of the merger. At the moment, Paston provides aspiration and inspiration to students who might not find it elsewhere. The academic provision (A level) needs to be retained. Students at Paston really value the quality of what they receive just look at the results and ask the students. I would like to see the range of further education courses available at Norwich City College reflected by those available at Paston College. These would include courses for students with special educational needs and disabilities and would be appropriate across the ability range. It is important to stress that both Paston Sixth Form College and City College Norwich s planned 2017/18 curriculum plan will remain the same with no change to programmes starting in September 2017 to ensure the minimal disruption to both students and staff. Going forward, it is key to note that Paston and City College Norwich s A level teaching model is similar in terms of hours of delivery and the use of tutors to support them. This will allow for a smooth transition through the merger. It will allow creative solutions to be found to protect minority and specialist subjects, keeping the A level offer as broad as possible across the two campuses. Vision for the future of outstanding Post-16 Education in North East Norfolk 14

15 From September 2017, Paston Sixth Form College is also offering a Level 2 progression course specifically targeted at those who just miss out on the entry requirements for their A level programme. The strong technical and vocational staffing expertise at City College Norwich will allow for an increased vocational offer within North Walsham and North East Norfolk across a variety of subjects. This will allow the merged institution to better respond to the forthcoming changes in the education system following the reform of education and Academic vs Technical route, creating bridges between the two pathways. Paston s excellent A level provision will continue and strengthen under a merger and with a large proportion of students already progressing into higher education. There will be further opportunity to provide access to higher education courses for adults at North Walsham. Currently, Paston has an excellent record of success with students on Level 3 courses who have learning difficulties and disabilities as outlined by Ofsted, but it has no provision for high needs students. City College Norwich has real specialism in supporting students with learning difficulties and disabilities, and was recently graded Outstanding by Ofsted for its provision for learners with high needs. Using City College Norwich s expertise in this field, it is the intention that the provision could be perfect for high needs at North Walsham and respond to the gap in provision. Impact on students As we live in North Walsham, we really value Paston College and with a child hoping to attend sixth form in 2018 we are a little worried that her choices may become limited. Students may need to travel to Norwich to do more classes. This is a disadvantage to student applications. The Consultation document made it very clear that students enrolled at Paston Sixth Form College at the date of the merger will be able to complete the courses with the merged College. The merger will allow a broadened curriculum offer at Paston and it clearly sets out the intention to introduce an increased vocational offer, including provision to support progression into higher education and into employment. This will also be supported by an apprenticeship offer. Such an offer is likely to impact positively on the travel to learn patterns for students, particularly for those in North Norfolk. This will benefit a significant number of students, allowing them to be able to study closer to home. In only a very small minority of subjects, which are otherwise in danger of being dropped from the curriculum, will students have to travel between sites. The new institution is very aware of the distances between the sites and will fully support any student in this situation. Overall, the students should not notice changes when the merger takes place. It will be business as usual. The merger will enhance student provision and opportunities through the new organisation. Leadership and management at Paston Staff working for the new combined organisation will have students as the central focus for everything they do. By working together across the sites, they can enhance provision, drive up standards and improve exam outcomes. There is a commitment from everyone to move from Good to an Outstanding Ofsted rating. The leadership will ensure there is a drive to make improvements in all areas of provision. Vision for the future of outstanding Post-16 Education in North East Norfolk 15

16 A senior leader from City College Norwich will be present at the Paston site each day supporting a curriculum programme manager and an operations manager both based at North Walsham. All of the vocational subjects will be supported by respective curriculum programme managers from City College Norwich. Planning and performance programme managers will assist in monitoring and enhancing achievement and standards in the new institution. There will also be a campus manager with specialism in finance, marketing and HR, who will provide direct management to support staff on the North Walsham site. Norfolk Education Services, who currently supply services to each organisation within the TEN Group (Transforming Education in Norfolk), will supply all the finance, HR, IT and professional services for the sites in North Walsham. A large organisation of this nature can provide a greater capacity and significantly more resources than a small independent college. Students will benefit from the changes including new investment into the Paston campus. Impact on staff Uncertainty in terms of staffing structure and timescale for changes to take place after the merger are significant worries for staff and the sooner all aspects can be clarified; the sooner staff will be able to settle. Subject to legal and financial due diligence studies, it is proposed that Paston Sixth Form College will merge with City College Norwich through what is known as a Type B Merger, with the Corporation of Paston Sixth Form College being disbanded as a legal body and with its assets, rights and liabilities transferring to City College Norwich. Staff will likewise transfer either to City College Norwich or to Norfolk Educational Services, a back office support services company to the TEN Group. Staff will be protected by TUPE, a process which supports employees rights and ensure that they are continuous as people change employer in these circumstances. The Colleges are fully committed to compliance with this process and will do all it can to ensure that the transfer of staff is seamless and effective. Under the merger, staff particularly at Paston, will have the benefits of working in a larger and more financially resilient organisation. There will be an opportunity to work with wider peer groups, particularly important for minority and specialist subjects. The staffing plan for the merged organisation will be aligned to the one currently in place at City College Norwich. Paston teachers and tutors will remain based in North Walsham and line managed by curriculum programme managers. The majority of back office support services such as finance, registry and HR would sit with Norfolk Education Services (NES). Some staff will remain at the Paston campus and provide additional support to central resources managed by NES where required. Through economies of scale there will be efficiencies including some necessary redundancies to ensure that the merger is financially viable and sustainable and allow government funding to be focused on the learners. This will ensure education at Paston continues for the benefit of North East Norfolk and beyond into the foreseeable future. Impact on North Walsham economy The College has also provided an important focal point and identity for North Walsham as well as making a strong contribution to its economy. While more courses will be on offer, equally students will be spending more time travelling and less time in North Walsham. Currently students can spend their free time contributing to the local economy, and the economic benefits of having a permanent body of students in the town should not be down played. Vision for the future of outstanding Post-16 Education in North East Norfolk 16

17 The vision of both Colleges is to create a resilient organisation that is financially sustainable and serves its local community by offering high quality education and training both in North Walsham and Norwich. The merger will allow Paston to continue to grow and thrive attracting students from a wide area, which will benefit the local economy. Without the merger, due to public spending pressure, increased competition and a declining demographic, Paston would not be able to continue to operate. The merger is vital for the benefits Paston will continue to bring to North Walsham. The opportunities to broaden the curriculum will attract more students, which will allow growth at Paston. Students enrolling at Paston will remain there and only in exceptional circumstances will travel between sites. It is not in the interests of the College and the students to spend time travelling at the expense of valuable study time. Only in order to protect a small number of minority subjects, will the student be expected to travel. Vision for the future of outstanding Post-16 Education in North East Norfolk 17

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19 Next steps We have taken into account all of the comments and suggestions made during the process and this feedback has contributed towards our planning. Ongoing consultations and discussions with staff, working closely with relevant trade unions, will continue throughout the process. Students currently studying at either College, or who have just enrolled, will continue as normal on the course they signed up for and at the site they planned to study. They will receive the same excellent student experience that Paston Sixth Form College and City College Norwich have always strived to provide. We will continue with our planning to create a merged College that will consolidate the best practices of Paston Sixth Form College and City College Norwich to deliver high quality education, training and skills development for the benefit of current and prospective students, other stakeholders and the wider community. Together we will plan to improve further still the quality of education, widen the breadth and range of provision, increase the number of options available to students and ensure a skilled, local workforce for the regional economy. The final decision on whether the merger will go ahead will rest with the governing bodies of both institutions and will be taken after the due diligence process. This is all about growth. By becoming one institution, we can work together to become an even stronger educational force than we currently are. We have a proud history and we are determined to build on this history by joining with City College Norwich to meet local needs in North East Norfolk. Kevin Grieve, Principal, Paston Sixth Form College Both institutions have a strong history and it is our aim to maintain, develop and celebrate their individual strengths and specialisms following the merger. After completion, we strongly believe the wider choice of courses and increased progression routes available will provide even more opportunities for young people to achieve their individual aspirations in North East Norfolk. Corrienne Peasgood, Principal, City College Norwich Subject to the satisfactory completion of legal and financial due diligence, we will seek to achieve the merger on 1 December We will continue to adopt an open and transparent approach and will endeavour to ensure all stakeholders, including staff and students, feel they have a clear and timely understanding of plans as they are confirmed. Vision for the future of outstanding Post-16 Education in North East Norfolk 19

20 In accordance with Section 33N(3) of the Further and Higher Education Act 1992 and Regulation 4(6) of the Sixth Form College Corporations (Publication of Proposals) (England) Regulations 2012 (SI 2012 no 1158), this document is published on 22 September 2017 as the summary of the consultation which was launched by a formal notice issued by Paston Sixth Form College on 22 June Paston Sixth Form College Grammar School Road North Walsham Norfolk NR28 9JL City College College Norwich Ipswich Road Norwich Norfolk NR2 2LJ