Forming a Powerhouse Further Education College in South Hampshire November 2018
This merger will create greater collaboration and financial stability. 2
Foreword In 2015, The Department for Education began a restructure of the post-16 education and training sectors through a national Area-Based process. The Government stated that each review shall, establish the appropriate set of institutions to offer high quality provision based on the current and future needs of learners and employers within the local area. This will result in fewer, larger, more resilient and efficient colleges with greater collaboration and financial stability. The public consultation begins on 1st November 2018 and runs until 19th December 2018. Later in this consultation document you ll find details about how you can take part and express your views about these plans, and see the proposed timeline to which both colleges are working. This is an exciting opportunity to shape the future of further education in South Hampshire and we strongly urge you to take part. We look forward to receiving your views. The Boards of Eastleigh College and Southampton City College have responded to this exceptional opportunity and believe the two colleges merging will create one powerhouse force, delivering to the region outstanding technical and professional education. Courses will be delivered in industry-standard facilities and taught by industry-expert professional staff. We have outlined below what we see as the key benefits of merging and would welcome hearing from you as to your views. Geraint Davies Chair of Southampton City College Jon Sendell Chair of Eastleigh College This merger will: Create the largest college of technical and professional education in South Hampshire and provide high-quality learning opportunities for around 28,000 students every year. Offer far greater opportunities through growing income and sharing costs, with one voice, across a wider geographical area. Provide greater access to further education, higher education and apprenticeships, providing essential skills and opportunities for outstanding futures. Significantly improve the learning opportunities, experience and environment for students, giving equal access across the region - combining inclusion and excellence to meet local and community needs. Have the potential to attract greater investment in education resources and expertise, whilst achieving value for money through central services. Provide a responsive resource for employers wanting to develop their workforce and recruit apprentices. Build on existing centres of excellence, whilst meeting the needs of local priority sectors including engineering, construction, marine, theatre and film production, gaming, business, IT and hospitality. Deliver a portfolio of successful commercial businesses operating alongside the colleges. These include restaurants and hair salons. Provide a developed, responsive resource nationally for employers seeking to develop their workforce and recruit apprentices building on our existing centres of excellence whilst meeting the needs of local priority sectors. Extend the capacity for staff development, sharing best practice, improving career opportunities and talent development and become an employer that attracts and retains the best talent. Provide capacity to enable further investment into high-quality resources and expertise, demonstrating real value for public money whilst creating an organisation of first choice. This merger will create the largest college of technical and professional education in South Hampshire. 3
Common Values Inclusive Providing opportunities for all learners to thrive in an inclusive environment. Changing lives through learning and supportive career advice. Respect and pride in supporting our communities. Responsive Always listening, learning and adapting to evolving educational, technological and business needs to shape our curriculum. We listen and respond to business and are flexible in planning courses to ensure we exceed their expectations. We are flexible and dynamic in our approach to cater for the right path for our students into their chosen career. Essential Playing an essential role in the region s prosperity by producing confident, work-ready individuals. Staying ahead of the game, ensuring our businesses receive the skills training for their staff to compete globally. Providing learning opportunities and new skills for our local communities. Making a significant, positive impact on the South Hampshire economy. Our shared vision Recognised by learners and industry as the most respected provider of technical qualifications and skills in the region. Nurturing We understand each student s different needs and are approachable and supportive. Our environments cater to learners individual needs, offering inspiring places to grow in. Financially viable for growth, development and investment. Ensure every student achieves his or her potential. Our shared mission Create an outstanding organisation which provides students with quality and industry-relevant technical courses, an inspiring environment for all to work in and a highly valued service to business. 4
The case for our merger Our aim for the new organisation, born out of a merger between two colleges in Hampshire, is to give everyone in our communities the best possible opportunities to succeed. We do this by providing some of the very best facilities and teaching environments, delivering courses with a focus on professional and technical qualifications. We are also a national provider of apprenticeships working with some of the biggest names in UK industry. The merger will create an exciting organisation with a focus on educational excellence. The proposed college will include the following subsidiaries and businesses: Eastleigh Campus Winchester Campus Southampton Campus The Marine Campus We believe a merged college for the region will be more resilient and deliver better opportunities for everyone through combining resources. This will: Create a leading organisation providing education excellence for students, staff, employers and communities. Have the critical mass to be a significant voice in the Further Education sector nationally and internationally. Provide access to shared connections in the business community with the increased opportunity to bid for regional and national contracts. Take advantage of a stable financial position, making best use of public funds and enabling increased investment in learning and training. Offer enhanced opportunities to access new funding streams, responding to Government funding priorities and any future demands on specific sectors. Create a pooled resource of quality teaching, expertise and best practice that fosters an ethos of educational excellence. Be best placed to offer specialisms and enhanced training opportunities as required in the region. Develop a flexible model for growth that is better placed to adapt to the changing needs of the region and support the Solent Local Enterprise Partnership and Local Authority priorities. The merger will create an exciting organisation with a focus on educational excellence. 5
A31 WINCHESTER M3 ROMSEY M3 Two well established colleges merging to create an offer... EASTLEIGH FAIROAK M27 A33 SOUTHAMPTON WOOLSTON M27 BURSLEDON...attracting students and businesses from across South Hampshire. Southampton City College Southampton City College is a further education college in Southampton, providing career focused courses, apprenticeships and education for young people and adults. Located in the centre of Southampton, the campus has undergone a 48m investment in new facilities and equipment, allowing students to learn and work in real life industry standard environments taught by expert professional staff. As well as offering a wide range of full-time career-led courses and qualifications for school leavers, the college also provides apprenticeships, professional training for businesses, short courses, adult learning and advanced qualifications including higher education. City College has particular specialisms in marine and maritime, closely linked to the Solent s strong marine sector and in the creative industry, linked to the Cultural Quarter in Southampton. The College has established close ties with employers in the city, resulting in students having excellent access to jobs, apprenticeship vacancies and work experience. Eastleigh College Eastleigh College is one of the country s top colleges. The college offers nationally recognised industry specific qualifications delivering a range of technical and professional courses for school leavers, adults and employers. All courses have been developed with industry in mind, ensuring that students are best equipped for progression into, or further progression within industry. Working with over 1,100 employers and with over 9,000 apprentices, the college was named the third largest college provider of adult apprenticeships in England in 2014/15 (in terms of funding). The college has recently undergone a 12 million redevelopment project, with facilities for computer science; construction and engineering; a new training kitchen and professional restaurant for catering students; new facilities for art, design and media; new training salons and a commercial hair and beauty salon. 6
The benefits and impacts of this merger For students: A greater choice of technical and professional education, delivered in exceptional industry standard facilities and taught by industry-expert professional staff. Increase the range and the breadth of tailored vocational qualifications and skills training on offer. Have greater links to businesses throughout the region offering them a wider range of skills and training. Have access to a wider course offer, with better opportunities in apprenticeships and higher education. For employers: Develop their workforce and recruit apprentices from the largest college in South Hampshire, with outstanding technical and professional education, delivered in exceptional industry-standard facilities and taught by industry-expert staff. Access high quality apprenticeship training. Greater variety of training models to meet their requirements. Recruit new employers from work-ready students. Provide a national apprenticeship offer working with some of the biggest names in UK industry. Offer a progressive and nurturing environment. For communities and stakeholders: Ensure the future of technical and professional education for generations to come. Provide more high quality and relevant learning opportunities for local people. Offer a curriculum that meets economic priorities on a local and regional level. Offer greater provision from entry level to higher education. MERGER TIMELINE 1 Nov- 19 Dec 2018 14 Feb 2019 Consultation on the proposal. Formal agreement to dissolve Southampton City College. Corporations review of the due diligence and consultation response. Proposed effective date of merger. Jan 2019 14 Mar 2019 7
Consultation As part of the merger process, a public consultation is taking place. Our aim is to ensure transparency throughout the process, leading to good decision-making. The public consultation will last seven weeks, allowing stakeholders sufficient time to provide a considered response. As part of the process, we will proactively engage with people, businesses and other stakeholders located within the communities where the colleges operate. Engagement with staff and students will also be a vital part of the process and is already underway through meetings and focus groups. To participate in the consultation, please complete the attached form. Indicative list of stakeholders to be consulted Business organisations FE colleges in Southampton and South Hampshire Secondary schools in South Hampshire Staff Students Parents Community organisations Education and skills organisations Secretary of State Employers MPs Local authorities Statutory Consultation Notice Statutory Notice - Further and Higher Education Act 1992 The Corporation of Southampton City College hereby gives notice in accordance with the Further Education Corporations Publication of Proposals, England Regulations 2012 of the proposal that Southampton City College, St Mary Street, Southampton SO14 1AR be dissolved and that the property, rights and liabilities of that Corporation be transferred to the Corporation of Eastleigh College, Chestnut Avenue, Eastleigh, SO50 5FS. Dissolution of the Corporation is proposed, at the request of the Corporation of Southampton City College in order that the college may merge with Eastleigh College. The date proposed for the dissolution of the Corporation is midnight on 14 March 2019. Provision will be made for all students currently attending Southampton City College who have not yet completed their courses of study by the date of the dissolution, to complete their studies on the same campus as planned. A consultation document setting out our full proposal is available online at www.citycollege-eastleighmerger.co.uk or a copy of the full proposal is available free of charge via email at merger@southampton-city.ac.uk and will be sent to any person who requests it. The consultation period runs from 1 November 2018-19 December 2018 Completed responses and representations should be emailed to: merger@southampton-city.ac.uk; or posted to: Clerk to the Corporation, Southampton City College, St Mary Street, Southampton SO14 1AR. A summary of the feedback and its outcome will be published within two months of the closing date on the Corporation s website. Local Enterprise Partnership As part of the merger process, a public consultation is taking place. 8
Have your say Governors at both colleges would be very grateful if you could read this document and respond to the questions below. Please send your completed form to: Email: merger@southampton-city.ac.uk Post: Clerk to the Corporation, Southampton City College, St Mary Street, Southampton SO14 1AR If you would like a reply, please supply your preferred contact details: * Your Name Preferred Contact (email/postal address) Please select the category which best describes you: Business organisation FE College Secondary school Staff Student Parent Community organisation Education and skills organisation Employer MP Local Authority Local Enterprise Partnership Member of the public Do you agree the new college will serve the needs of its communities and give them good opportunities? Yes No Unsure If you answered YES What advantages do you see from the merger of our two colleges? If you answered NO What disadvantages do you see from our proposed merger and what alternative arrangements would you suggest? If you answered UNSURE Please tell us why 9
Have your say What are your views regarding the proposed vision, mission and values of the proposed merged college? Please refer to page 5 of this document. Please include any other comments you would like us to take into account. *PRIVACY STATEMENT Your data will only be used in relation to the merger consultation process and will not be used for any other purpose. Any responses will be anonymised in the consultation results documentation. Under your rights of the Data Protection Act 2018, the information you have provided will only be processed and retained for the specified purpose. Please see https://ico.org.uk/for-the-public. 10
11 This merger will provide a responsive resource for employers wanting to develop their workforce and recruit apprentices.
Forming a Powerhouse Further Education College in South Hampshire November 2018 Contact Information Address: Clerk to the Corporation, Southampton City College, St Mary Street, Southampton SO14 1AR Tel: 02380 484848 Email: merger@southampton-city.ac.uk