Guildford College Group and Activate Learning have announced plans to merge.
The partnership, the two groups announced, would initiate a new phase of development and “secure the future” of the Surrey-based colleges that make up Guildford College Group: Guildford College, Merrist Wood College and Farnham Sixth Form College.
Later this year, Activate Learning and the Guildford College Group will publish a joint public consultation to set out the benefits that working together would bring. A formal consultation process with staff will also take place.
Guildford College is currently subject to two notices of concern from the Education and Skills Funding Agency - one over its financial health and a second over the standards of its apprenticeship provision. Last May, the college was rated “requires improvement” by Ofsted, with inspectors saying that the proportion of learners achieving their qualifications was low and too few apprentices achieved their qualification within the planned time.
‘A new lease of life’ for college group
Only weeks ago, it was announced that Bracknell and Wokingham College would merge with Activate Learning in August, joining Reading College, City of Oxford College and Banbury and Bicester College. Both Activate Learning and Bracknell and Wokingham College were rated “good” by Ofsted this year.
John Denning, chair of Guildford College Group, said the new partnership was “very good news for the Guildford College Group”. “It’s all about securing the future while protecting the heritage of our long-established colleges. This new venture will secure a great future for the group and is an opportunity for a new lease of life that will benefit our learners, staff, local communities and employers we serve.”
Chris Jones, chairman of Activate Learning, said: “This is great news for our learners, staff, businesses and local communities in Surrey, Berkshire and Oxfordshire. Working together, we will give our learners a wider range of career pathways, give local businesses greater access to talent, provide greater opportunities for our staff and build a group of colleges that are stronger together and even greater assets to our communities.”
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