ACCRINGTON and rossendale college AND COLLEGE MERGER FOReWORD

This document details the background to the proposal for a merger between Accrington & Rossendale College and Burnley College to take place 1 May 2017. It describes the reason for the merger and the benefits and opportunities it will bring for learners, employers and the wider community.

Our intention is to merge Accrington & Rossendale College and Burnley College, however, the existing main campuses will remain the same and retain their existing names and local identities.

The decision of the two Governing Bodies to make this proposal reflects a positive strategy to deliver a strengthened local skills offer, in a climate when the stability of individual colleges may be challenged in the future. The Boards and senior teams have recognised the strength and opportunities created by a single, larger college with one vision, a shared and relevant curriculum and a single focus on quality, standards and excellence.

The proposed merger offers the best opportunity for a truly sustainable efficient and effective model for the two colleges, aligning provision and focus and providing joint financial stability in a changing sector - together they are stronger.

Our guiding principle throughout this merger proposal is to enhance opportunities for students and employers. The new overarching organisation will enable specialisms to arise and better facilitate the development of higher level education skills provision, apprenticeships and higher education opportunities.

By merging, we will be better placed to engage with employers and ensure that students are ready for the job opportunities of the future. Our proposed new college will also combine the best of each college’s heritage in supporting the skills of our communities. For better or worse much has changed in the way in which learners have been funded in recent years and continued change is to be expected. As a larger, more robust organisation, we will have greater ability to support our learners through this process and ensure they are not marginalised as a result.

2 WE BELIEVE THE BENEFITS OF MERGER ARE:

Combining complementary strengths to increase the range of education and training opportunities and progression routes for learners and employers;

Delivering a joint curriculum 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 priorities for growing apprenticeships and higher level professional and technical education to support economic growth and prosperity in Pennine ;

Better capacity to engage nationally and regionally with partners and stakeholders, in order to bring greater 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 efficiency and value for money;

Increased investment in learner resources and facilities – enhancing and ensuring the continuity of local provision.

We welcome and look forward to hearing your views.

Brian Stephenson David Meakin Chair Chair Accrington & Rossendale College Burnley College

3 WHAT IS THE PROPOSAL?

The reasons for and benefits of a merger between both Colleges for students, employers, staff and the broader community in both boroughs are reviewed in this publication.

The colleges have carried out an independent Strategic Options Appraisal which has recommended merger. The Appraisal considered the range, scale and quality of provision in the local area, Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) developments and priorities, local demographics, employer engagement and stakeholder views. The recommendation was that the two colleges could and should merge. For the Governing Bodies, the over-riding consideration is the positive impact this change will have for current and future learners in the geographic area covered by the two colleges. It is intended to secure a financially robust, viable, suitable, sustainable and appropriate further and higher education curriculum offer across the local area, protecting the localism of the areas and yet providing choices.

Consultation on this proposal will run from 1st December 2016 until 12th January 2017. Feedback received during the consultation process will be reviewed by the Governing Bodies of both colleges at meetings in January and the outcome of the consultation will be published in February 2017.

Details on how to respond to the consultation can be found at the end of the publication.

“The recommendation was that the two colleges could and should merge.”

4 so why merge?

The UK, our region and the people within it have great opportunities in the years ahead but also face challenges. We need to:

Ensure that our young people (post 16) have good access to high quality education and training in the subjects and disciplines that are right for them as they start their journey towards higher education and/or the world of work;

Increase the skills of our workforce, so businesses can be more productive and successful and so that local individuals can access the opportunities in the local labour market;

Fully support the aspirations of learners to access University courses, delivering higher education provision in a wide range of subjects at both campuses;

Incorporate the latest learning technologies and techniques to provide an engaging and dynamic learning experience;

Provide a financially secure larger institution, protecting the choice of provision for individual learners as we look to the future;

Support the delivery of the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership’s (LEP) confident and ambitious Strategic Economic Plan for the area, meeting the skills needs of employers through robust, appropriate and high quality training.

“protecting the choice of provision for individual learners as we look to the future.”

5 WHY THIS PARTNERSHIP?

Accrington & Rossendale College has an excellent reputation in the local area as a strong vocational college which prides itself on providing a good education to those who wish to progress, particularly adults looking to enhance their careers.

Burnley College is a first class provider, proud of its excellent academic achievements and strong reputation. Both colleges offer a wide range of further and higher education, apprenticeships and bespoke courses for employers. Together they will offer clear progression pathways for learners across all levels from further education into higher education, apprenticeships and employment.

The current employer links are strong for both colleges and will be developed and fostered to ensure that the curriculum offer remains appropriate and relevant, responding to industry changes.

There is a synergy between the two colleges around vision and values based on striving for excellence and achieving the best possible outcomes for learners – these are the right things to sit at the heart of this decision. Geographically the two colleges are only seven miles apart with good public transport links and Rossendale is a common catchment area which is unique to both colleges.

“Together they will offer clear progression pathways for learners across all levels from further education into higher education, apprenticeships and employment.”

6 WHAT IS OUR VISION FOR THE MERGED COLLEGE?

Most importantly the merged College will have at its very heart the learner and customer and will work hard to ensure they have the best possible outcome. Our goals for the merged college are to:

Provide excellent teaching and learning for all;

Ensure positive course and employment outcomes;

Meet the skills and training needs across the local area;

Increase progression opportunities, broadening and enhancing the higher education and skills options;

Significantly contribute to economic development and regeneration through close working with key stakeholders e.g. employers, employer groups, local councils, the Local Enterprise Partnership and local authorities;

Provide opportunities for all as an inclusive organisation;

Offer enhanced opportunities for learners, employers, communities and staff and bring about a number of operational benefits.

7 WHAT ARE the BENEFITS OF THIS MERGER FOR LEARNERS?

Combined complementary Delivery of a joint strengths will increase the curriculum offer will range of education and build on the established training opportunities and specialisms of both colleges, progression routes for and avoids unnecessary learners and employers duplication of provision

Greater capacity to develop provision to meet national and local priorities to support economic growth and prosperity in Pennine Lancashire; (apprenticeships, higher level professional and technical education)

8 Combining the talented pool of Greater capacity to engage staff, and the excellent facilities nationally and regionally with and resources, will widen partners and stakeholders, will opportunities for learners and bring greater benefits to the will ensure efficiency and value local communities for money

It will create an organisation with a turnover of circa £36m each year, which will enable more investment in learner resources and facilities – enhancing and ensuring the continuity of local provision

9 WHY NOW?

It is in the best interests of all our learners that the planned merger takes place smoothly and speedily, minimising disruption to their studies and maximising opportunities to enhance their experience.

The excellent relationship that is already established between the two Colleges has been further developed over the past 18 months and both organisations are in a strong position to move forward.

A merger in May will enable both institutions to make a strong start to the academic year 2017/18 from August 2017 as the new, merged institution.

WHY DOES YOUR OPINION MATTER?

It is vitally important to us that we receive your views which will, in turn, help us to shape the future of our new partnership.

The new college will serve the local area and we want to ensure that it will meets the needs of all learners, the local community and other valued stakeholders.

Have your say. Any and all observations are welcome.

10 WHAT ARE THE TIMESCALES FOR MERGER?

THE PROPOSED TIMETABLE for the MERGER IS SET OUT BELOW:

1st Dec 2016 – 12th Jan 2017 Formal consultation period

Feb 2017 Consultation outcomes published

April 2017 Both college Governing Bodies asked to give merger approval and formal notice of merger published

1 May 2017 Merger of Accrington & Rossendale College and Burnley College into a single organisation

11 HOW TO RESPOND TO THIS CONSULTATION

Our plan for the merger of Accrington & Rossendale College and Burnley College will continue to be refined as views are given by the public and our stakeholders. We now need your help to complete our proposals.

The formal Statutory Notice can be found on page 13.

The formal consultation period runs from 1st December 2016 to the 12th January 2017. All responses and representations must be received by the closing date.

You can respond in a number of ways:

A consultation form is included on page 14 of this document. Please return this to the address below. It can also be downloaded at either of the web addresses below.

Other responses and representation can be made by email or post, again to the address below:

Jane Spurgin AoC Create Consultant Burnley College, Princess Way Burnley Lancashire BB12 0AN or via e-mail: [email protected]

Further copies of this consultation document can be obtained online at: www.burnley.ac.uk/consultation www.accross.ac.uk/consultation

The Governing Bodies of each college will publish an online summary of the consultation and its outcome in February 2017 (see web addresses above).

The summary can also be provided by post. To request a copy please send a stamped addressed envelope (A4) to either:

Simone Lomas Alison Holt Burnley College Accrington & Rossendale College Princess Way Broad Oak Campus Burnley Broad Oak Road BB12 0AN Accrington BB5 2AW

12 Information to be provided in accordance with The Further Education (Publication of Proposals) () Regulations 2012

Statutory notice: Further and Higher Education Act 1992

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN by the Corporation of Accrington & Rossendale 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 to the Corporation of Burnley College and the subsequent dissolution of the Further Education Corporation of Accrington & Rossendale College.

Accrington & Rossendale College is a General Further Education College, which delivers vocational education, skills training and Higher Education in Accrington and more widely. At the end of the 2015/16 academic year the College had over 7,000 learners of which over 1,000 were aged 16-18.

Dissolution of the Corporation of Accrington & Rossendale College is proposed in order that it may merge with Burnley College. This will allow the combined organisation to harness the equal strength of both institutions, their resources, expertise and quality, and their equally strong reputations and standing with employers, stakeholders and their communities. Utilising these, it will be strongly placed to offer an increased range of outstanding 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.

The date proposed for the dissolution of the Corporation of Accrington & Rossendale College is 30 April 2017.

All learners at Accrington & Rossendale College who have not completed their courses of study by the date of the proposed dissolution will continue with, and complete their studies in, their current locations.

13 WE WANT YOUR VIEWS

Proposed Merger of Accrington & Rossendale College and Burnley College

Accrington & Rossendale College and Burnley 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 which is available on both colleges’ websites. Once you have read the proposal, please answer the following questions:

Name:

Email:

Please tell us a little about yourself: (optional)

If you represent an organisation, please tell us about your role

Name:

Preferred contact details (such as address, contact number or e-mail address):

Which of the following best describes you or your organisation:

College Staff Learner School

Employer Local Business Other

FE or Sixth Form College Local Community

Government Body/Agency Local Government

HE Institution Parent

14 1. do you support the proposal for the merger of accrington & rossendale college and burnley college?

Yes No Not sure

Comments:

2. We plan to retain the local identities of Accrington & rossendale college and burnley college. Do you support this?

Yes No Not sure

Comments:

3. 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 of the provision or services you would wish to see prioritised:

4. we plan to share good practice across our campuses in order to further enhance the quality of learner and customer experience. Do you support this aim?

Yes No Not sure

Please give details of any areas, services or provision you would wish to see prioritised:

5. Do you think any group, including students and staff, would be adversely affected by the merger plans?

Yes No Not sure

Comments:

Please use this space to make any comments relevant to the plans in this document or to expand on any of your previous answers:

15 Accrington & Rossendale College Burnley College Broad Oak Campus Princess Way Broad Oak Road Burnley Accrington Lancashire Lancashire BB12 0AN BB5 2AW 01282 733873 01254 389933 www.burnley.ac.uk www.accross.ac.uk