A Shared Vision for Education in Pennine Lancashire

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1 A Shared Vision for Education in Pennine Lancashire Merger Consultation Document April

2 Contents Joint Foreword from The Chairs of Corporation Merger Proposal Rationale for the Merger Our Vision for the Merged College Benefits of the Merger Three Delivery Centres Why this Partnership? Why Now? Have Your Say... APPENDIX ONE Feedback Form APPENDIX TWO Statutory Notice 2

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4 Nelson and Colne College Merger JOINT FOREWORD FROM THE CHAIRS OF CORPORATION Accrington and Rossendale and Nelson and Colne College have worked together for a number of years and have a long history of serving learners across Pennine Lancashire. The new joint college created through the merger will build on the strengths of our institutions, and create an exciting and sustainable future for Accrington and Rossendale College. The proposed merger will bring together the strengths and successes of our two colleges and enable us to provide a high quality and inclusive vocational, sixth form, Apprenticeship and higher education offer for young people and businesses in the local area, now and in the future. It will also create a financially robust college that can maximise the benefits for learners, make best use of public funding and maintain innovation and excellence. Because of the existing close relationship, and the locality of the colleges geographically, we are confident that any transition will be a smooth one for students, and the study programmes currently offered at the two colleges will still be available for students following the merger. This is an exciting opportunity to develop post-16 education provision across Pennine Lancashire that will serve students, employers and local communities for decades to come and make a more significant and sustained contribution to the local and regional economy than can be achieved apart. Details on how to respond to the consultation can be found on page 10. We welcome and look forward to hearing your views. Brian Stephenson Chair Accrington and Rossendale College Stephen Barnes Chair Nelson and Colne College 4

5 Merger Proposal The merger will create a single college that through increased capacity, determination and expertise will deliver the highest quality of learning and skills to students. It will also develop a financially sustainable model that ensures continued investment and secures the college as the first choice for students, staff and employers alike. Rationale for the Merger Both Colleges have ambitious plans to support students, staff, employers and other stakeholders to achieve greater success. By merging, Nelson and Colne College and Accrington and Rossendale College will be able to direct resources more effectively to serve our customers, benefiting from greater efficiency and securing a stronger financial future, in the context of reduced funding for education. This merger will secure the long term sustainability of both colleges by reducing duplication, concentrating investment where it is needed most, and give us a louder voice in the region, enabling greater opportunities to work with employers, which in turn will develop new income streams. Our Vision for the Merged College The merged college will have the learner and our customers at its very heart and will work hard to ensure they have the best possible outcomes. Our goals for the merged college are to: Deliver the highest quality provision for all; which is stimulating, relevant, and enjoyable, while being aligned to the needs of industry; Ensure outstanding achievements and employment outcomes for our students; Meet the skills and training needs of individuals, employers and the local community; Deliver a sound, clear and ambitious curriculum offer that strengthens the progression of learners into work or Higher Education. 5

6 Benefits of the Merger Combining complementary strengths to increase the range of high quality education and training opportunities and progression routes for learners and employers; Delivering a joint curriculum and extracurricular offer which builds on the established specialisms of both colleges and avoids unnecessary duplication of provision; Greater capacity to develop provision to meet national and local skills priorities for growing Apprenticeships and higher level professional and technical education to support economic growth and prosperity in Pennine Lancashire; Better capacity to engage nationally and regionally with partners and stakeholders, in order to bring greater and continued benefits to the local communities; Combining the talent pool of staff and the excellent facilities and resources, to widen opportunities for learners and to ensure ongoing efficiency, value for money and financial stability; Increased investment in the latest learner resources and facilities enhancing and ensuring the continuity of local provision. Accrington and Rossendale College have been providing award-winning education for over 60 years 6

7 Three Delivery Centres This merger will result in a partnership of three distinct delivery centres, each with their own identity and brand, across Pennine Lancashire: Accrington and Rossendale Skills and Technology Centre Accrington and Rossendale Skills and Technology Centre will build on its existing strengths as a deliverer of Apprenticeships, Higher Education and vocational and occupational learning for Pennine Lancashire and beyond. The existing investment in specialist facilities to support skills and technology will be central to its future role as partner to key employers and stakeholders in the construction, health and digital sectors. Nelson and Colne College Nelson and Colne College has a long standing reputation as an outstanding provider of Level 3 programmes, particularly A Levels. Increasingly, it has become recognised as a sixth form, and has grown in learners by 15% in the last three years, delivering to students from a wider catchment area, who are aspiring to a high quality experience and education. Lancashire Adult Learning (LAL) Lancashire Adult Learning (LAL) provides adult learning across the whole county of Lancashire. The primary objective of LAL is to deliver a wide range of high quality programmes to help adults, from all walks and stages of life, reskill, develop their Maths and English, support their families, lead healthier lives, strengthen communities and ultimately learn something new. The plans do not require students to move their studies and any future plans will consider arrangements to ensure students are not inconvenienced. 7

8 Why this Partnership? There is much similarity between the districts served by Accrington and Rossendale and Nelson and Colne Colleges in Pendle, Hyndburn, Rossendale and the Ribble Valley. Geographically, the colleges are ten miles apart, but can offer very high quality skills and education provision by working together. Both colleges serve similar young people and communities with a high proportion of adults needing to upskill, reskill or gain the basic skills required to enable them to contribute to the local economy, and lead independent lives - overcoming poverty, poor education outcomes, and poor health and resilience. Our employers, often small to medium enterprises, struggle to find skilled workers, or young people with the right attitude for work. In this shared context, our merged College will serve young and adult students wanting to build a prosperous future for themselves and for their families. In parallel, it will support the regional economy, providing a pipeline of skilled, enthusiastic and capable candidates for work. Our regional economy depends on the success of our employers, and their success depends on their ability to attract talent to enable them to become more productive and grow. The prosperity of Pennine Lancashire in turn depends on our ability to retain existing businesses and attract new ones. This collaboration will improve the effectiveness and efficiency of both colleges; our collective efforts enable us to achieve greater results. The plan is for the merger to take place in the autumn of 2018 this will ensure there is no disruption to students and will allow us to make any investments before the start of the academic year. 8

9 Why now? The two Colleges already have an established relationship and both organisations are in a strong position to move forward. It is in the best interest of all our learners that the merger takes place sooner rather than later so that there is minimal disruption to their studies and they can benefit from the additional opportunities the merger brings. A merger in autumn 2018 will enable both institutions to develop strategic plans and make decisions ready for the 2019/20 academic year as a new, merged institution. Next Steps 27 April 2018 Statutory notice of merger published 27 April 27 May 2018 Formal consultation period July 2018 November 2018 Consultation outcomes published Proposed merger of Nelson and Colne College into a single institution Nelson and Colne College has a history of collaboration and a successful track record of partnership working 9

10 Have Your Say... The Corporations of both colleges would like to know your views on the proposed merger. The new College will serve the local area and we want to make sure that it will meet the needs of all learners, the local community and other valued stakeholders. The formal consultation period runs from 27 April 2018 to 27 May All responses and representations must be received by the closing date. You can respond in a number of ways: Write Chair of the Corporation Accrington and Rossendale College Broad Oak Campus Broad Oak Road Accrington BB5 merger@accross.ac.uk or merger@nelson.ac.uk Visit and complete the online form 10

11 Further copies of this consultation document and additional information can be obtained online at: The Governing Bodies of each college will publish an online summary of the consultation and its outcome in July 2018 (see web address above). The summary can also be provided by post. To request a copy please send a stamped addressed envelope (A4) to either: Chair of the Corporation Accrington and Rossendale College Broad Oak Campus Broad Oak Road Accrington BB5 2AW Chair of the Corporation Nelson and Colne College Scotland Road Nelson BB9 7YT 11

12 APPENDIX ONE Feedback Form Proposed Merger of Nelson and Colne College Nelson and Colne College are proposing to merge in order to further the ambitions we both have for the communities we serve. Details of the proposed merger are outlined in this document. Once you have read the proposal, please answer the following questions: Name: Preferred contact details (such as address, contact number or address): Which of the following best describes you or your organisation: College Staff Learner School Employer Local Business FE or Sixth Form College Member of the Public Government Body/Local Authority Government HE Institution Parent Other 1. Do you support the proposal for the merger of Nelson and Colne College? Yes No Not Sure Comments 12

13 2. We plan to maintain and widen the range of opportunities for learners and to expand our employer focused provision and services. Do you support these aims? Yes No Not Sure Please give details: 3. Do you think any group, including students and staff, would be adversely affected by the merger plans? Yes No Not Sure Please give details: Please use this space to make any comments relevant to the plans in this document or to expand on any of your previous answers: General Data Protection Regulation Nelson and Colne College and Accrington and Rossendale College will use the information on this feedback form for statistical purposes, in order to produce the formal response document and to provide specific responses on request. A copy of the response document will be available on in July You agree that Nelson and Colne College are free to use any comments, information or ideas contained in any communication you may send to Nelson and Colne College without compensation, acknowledgement or payment to you for any purpose. 13

14 APPENDIX TWO Statutory Notice NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN by the Corporation of Accrington and Rossendale College, in accordance with the Further Education Corporations (Publication of Proposals) (England) Regulations 2012 (SI 2012/1157), of the proposal for the transfer of the property, rights and liabilities to the Corporation of Nelson and Colne College and subsequent dissolution of the Further Education Corporation of Accrington and Rossendale College. Dissolution of the Corporation of Accrington and Rossendale College is proposed in order that it may merge with Nelson and Colne College. The vision is to create a single college that will offer a skills, vocational and occupational training centre, mirrored by a sixth form and adult community provision. All students at Accrington and Rossendale and Nelson and Colne College who have not yet completed their course of study by the date of the proposed dissolution will continue to do so at their current locations. The date proposed for the dissolution of the Corporation of Accrington and Rossendale College is 1 November A copy of the proposal and consultation document can be found by visiting by ing merger@accross.ac.uk or merger@nelson.ac.uk, or in writing to: The Clerk of Corporation, Accrington and Rossendale College, Broad Oak Campus, Broad Oak Road, Accrington BB5 2AW. The consultation period runs from 27 April until 27 May All responses and representations must be received by the closing date. A summary of the consultation and its outcome will be published within two months following the closing date of the consultation period and the summary will be available free of charge to any person who requests it. 14

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16 Amanda Melton, Principal and Chief Executive Nelson and Colne College, Scotland Road, Nelson, Lancashire, BB9 7YT Lynda Mason, Interim Principal Accrington and Rossendale College, Broad Oak Campus, Broad Oak Road, Accrington, Lancashire, BB5 2AW 16