September 2018 Have Your Say
This public document outlines a proposal for merging Barnfield College with, creating a combined further education college serving Luton, Hemel Hempstead, Watford and surrounding areas. Further details are provided on the following pages, together with an opportunity for you to contribute thoughts and ideas which can be sent to us online or by printing and posting the form at the back of this document. Public consultation is a statutory requirement prior to any college merger. Please do use this opportunity to feedback comments and suggestions. Thank you for your time and interest. 2018-19: current students and applicants All study options remain available There are no changes to campus life New opportunities in the future
3 Foreword Here at Barnfield College we want to expand the teaching and training we offer to local people and employers. It s specifically with this in mind that we ve sought a merger partner a college that can help us to grow our courses and apprenticeships across Luton and the local area. Following a formal review I m delighted to announce that this preferred provider is West Herts College. shares our values and, like us, it wants to see Barnfield College create many new opportunities for local people and businesses. is delighted to have been selected as the merger partner for Barnfield College. Luton is a place where local people and local employers deserve the very best from their further education college. Creating new opportunities in this way will guide everything we do. It s a journey and it starts here with this public consultation. Thank you for your interest. Phil Thompson Chair of Governors Peter Hill Chair of Governors Barnfield College Ambition and action Prosperity for Luton people Productivity for Luton employers Investing in our shared futures
4 Guiding Principles Local people and employers deserve the very best from Barnfield College. It s for this reason that the Board of Governors has been looking for a merger partner a college to help it introduce new courses and apprenticeships. The decision to select West Herts College has unanimous support at both colleges. The shared objective is an ambitious plan to benefit students of all ages, with a clear focus on developing: Excellent teaching and learning Innovative courses and apprenticeships Specialist provision for new careers locally A commitment to campus estate development Solutions for community and business priorities A wider talent pool of teachers and specialists Firm financial foundations for long-term sustainability Barnfield College will engage with all stakeholders including: Students, families and residents Local schools and colleges University of Bedfordshire Luton Borough Council Luton Local politicians employers Chambers Luton employers of Commerce SEMLEP* Chambers of Commerce Government SEMLEP* funding bodies Government funding bodies *SEMLEP: South East Midlands Local Enterprise Partnership The ambition is to see a strong, vibrant college focused on raising aspirations by providing direct access to the fast growing employment opportunities in Luton.
5 For All the Right Reasons Clear Ambition Real purpose Real change Really determined Stronger Together Bigger and better New perspectives New partnerships Firm Foundations Strong financial position Greater efficiency A sustainable future
6 Together We Can Support The decision to merge has the support of: The Governing Bodies at Barnfield College and The senior management teams at both colleges alongside the staff consulted during the tender process The FE Commissioner, who has been leading these merger proceedings in 2018 Ambition The decision has a shared ambition to: Expand the choice of courses and apprenticeships Grow the range and levels of teaching and learning on offer Add new, modern subjects targeting skills in high demand locally in Luton and surrounding areas Priorities The decision to merge has the right priorities: It will return Barnfield College to its very best: supporting local people and businesses to thrive It places students at the heart of college life now and into the future It will ensure Barnfield College reaches Luton s diverse communities and employment sectors It will focus on developing services and curriculum before considering possible changes to the Barnfield College name or logo.
7 Driven By Our Values Barnfield College is Luton s local college, offering vocational courses for adults and young people after their GCSEs. Innovation will bring developments to teaching and learning, with Barnfield College staff the driving force behind this. Key services will continue from entrylevel courses to higher learning across a broad curriculum. There is an ongoing commitment to campus estate development in Luton and no one will need to travel further to study with us. At Barnfield College we will ensure that the views of Luton stakeholders are represented at College Board level, with local priorities central to our planning and actions. By becoming a larger college this engagement can extend across the wider region, raising our profile and the influence we have. Many colleges are merging for this reason. At Barnfield College the aim is to bring long-term stability reputationally and financially alongside gains for local people and employers. More of what matters Courses and skills for employment Work experience for young people Lifelong learning for everyone
8 A Springboard for Success has a reputation for innovation and success, with a proven track record of developing modern courses and apprenticeships enhanced by state-of-the-art facilities. Bringing this to life are close partnerships with local businesses for work experience, apprenticeships and full-time employment. It s a perspective that combines vision with attention to detail, with students always at the heart of decision making.
9 Right Time, Right Place The M1 economy linking Barnfield College and is growing fast. By combining talents and campuses the new college can make the most of this providing local training that s tailored to opportunities across the region. Enterprise Way Campus New Bedford Road Campus M1 Better Together Hemel Hempstead Campus Kings Langley Campus M25 Watford Campus
10 Vision The new Barnfield College will be rooted in its local economy and neighbourhoods boosting the productivity of employers by developing the skills local people need to prosper today and in the future. For students This means a college where the experiences are life changing For staff This means a dynamic new employer that enables, inspires and motivates For employers This means a professional partner with expert knowledge For communities This means a partner accessible to local people and local groups
11 Have Your Say At this time of change it s important that we know your views. What would you like to see come from the proposed merger between Barnfield College and? Do you have suggestions or concerns you d like addressed? Merger timeline The key dates are as follows: Consultation period 14 September 2018 to 15 October 2018 Consultation feedback published 15 November 2018 Planned merger date 1 February 2019 A copy of the formal statutory notice is included on page 15
12 Ways You Can Respond Online feedback If you are reading this online, please go to the survey that accompanies this document. If you are reading a printed copy, the same survey can be found at: www.barnfield.ac.uk/consultation/ www.westherts.ac.uk/consultation/ Alternatively, emailed comments and feedback are also welcome please send these to: jane.spurgin@westherts.ac.uk Print and post The consultation form that follows here can be printed and returned by post to Jane Spurgin. If you would like a printed copy of this document, email: jane.spurgin@westherts.ac.uk Contact address Jane Spurgin Principal s Office Watford campus Hempstead Road Watford Hertfordshire WD17 3EZ Please note All responses and representations must be received by the closing date of 15 October 2018. Published results The Governing Bodies of each college will publish an online summary of the consultation and its outcomes on 15 November 2018. This summary can also be sent to you by post. To request a printed copy, send an A4 SAE (stamped addressed envelope) to Jane Spurgin at the above address. Please note: As Merger Project Manager Jane Spurgin represents Barnfield College and West Herts College. She is collecting survey responses on behalf of both and can be contacted regarding either institution.
13 Barnfield College and 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 which is available on both colleges websites. Once you have read the proposal, please answer the following questions. Name: Email: Please tell us a bit about yourself (this is optional): Survey Responses You can complete the survey online or print and post this form to us see page 12 for details. If you represent an organisation, please tell us about your role Preferred contact details: address, contact number or email (this is mandatory) Which of the following best describes you or your organisation? College Staff Parent Student School FE or Sixth Form College Local Community Employer HE Institution Local Government Government Body/Agency Other Do you support the proposal for the merger of and Barnfield College? Yes No Not sure Comments:
14 Survey Response Form cont. We plan to retain the local identities of and Barnfield College, do you support this? Yes No Not sure Comments: We plan to share good practice across our campuses in order to further enhance the quality of learner and customer experience, are there particular aspects of this that you would like to be considered? Yes No Not sure Comments: Do you think any group, including students and staff, would be adversely affected by the merger plans? Yes No Not sure Comments: Please use the space below to make any comments relevant to the plans in this document or to expand on any of your previous answers:
15 College profiles Barnfield College and West Herts College are general further education colleges. Courses and apprenticeships for young people and adults are available across levels from introductory to advanced. Number of Students 2017/18 Academic Year Students Barnfield West Herts College College Full time 1,434 4,419 Part time 2,532 3,339 Total 3,966 7,758 Statutory Information This information is provided in accordance with the Further Education Corporations (Publications of Proposals) (England) Regulations 2012. Statutory Notice: Further and Higher Education Act 1992. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN by the Corporation of Barnfield College, in accordance with the Further Education Corporations (Publication of Proposals) (England) Regulations 2012, SI 2012 No. 1157 of the proposal for the transfer of certain property, rights and liabilities of Barnfield College to the Corporation of West Herts College and the subsequent dissolution of the Further Education Corporation of Barnfield College. Barnfield College is a General Further Education College, which delivers vocational education, skills and training and higher education in Luton and more widely. At the end of the 2017/18 academic year Barnfield College had 1,434 full-time students and 2,532 part-time students, giving a total of 3,966 students. Dissolution of the Corporation of Barnfield College is proposed in order that it may merge with West Herts College. This will allow the combined organisation to harness the strengths of both institutions, their resources, expertise, quality, and their reputations. Utilising these, it will be strongly placed to offer an increased range of high-quality educational and training opportunities to individuals and employers, and to do so in an efficient way that provides good value to paying students and clients, to funding organisations and to tax payers.
Barnfield College Barnfield College New Bedford Road Campus Luton LU2 7BF Barnfield College Enterprise Way Campus Luton LU3 4BU executiveoffice@barnfield.ac.uk 01582 569569 Barnfield.ac.uk Watford Campus Hempstead Road Watford Hertfordshire WD17 3EZ Hemel Hempstead Campus Marlowes Hemel Hempstead Hertfordshire HP1 1HD Kings Langley Campus Home Park Mill Link Road Kings Langley Hertfordshire WD4 8LZ jane.spurgin@westherts.ac.uk 01923 812199 Westherts.ac.uk