MEDIA RELEASE Released under embargo 00.01 Friday 30th August, 2019 HAVE YOUR SAY: College Merger Plans – views invited Easton and Otley College today launches a public consultation, encouraging views from across the East Anglian community on its proposed merger with City College Norwich and Suffolk New College. The three institutions have been in talks to work together following a review led by Further Education Commissioner Richard Atkins, which has proposed the colleges complete a merger by the end of December 2019. Today sees the opening of the formal period of consultation, during which students, parents, staff, local employers and the wider community are invited and encouraged to share their thoughts on the plan. With a clear objective to provide a secure future for land-based learning in Norfolk and Suffolk, the proposal aims to result in two resilient and financially sustainable organisations, with widened educational offerings and strong industry partnerships. In recent weeks, the Easton and Otley leadership team has been overwhelmed by support in the face of its new chapter, with MPs, business leaders and sector specialists keen to see the region retain its strong reputation for food and agricultural linked education. The consultation period is set to run until Tuesday 1 October, after which all responses received will be considered carefully, before a final proposal is presented to the governing bodies of all three colleges and a final decision is reached. Meanwhile, detailed work continues on business planning and financial due diligence. Mark Pendlington, Chair of Easton and Otley College Corporation, said: “This consultation is an open invitation to all those in the region who wish to help secure a long-term future for the land based education in the East of England. We are asking students, parents, business and community leaders, as well as elected representatives and local authorities to share their views and ambitions for the future of the sector. This is a real call to action, and we are confident that many people will want to help and get involved. “We’ve spent the last two years planning how best to serve the needs of this largest sector in our growing economy, while teaching and inspiring the future leaders of the land based industry. All against a very difficult backdrop of the challenges facing further education as a whole. He added: “By adapting to change and driving progress, we see merging the Easton campus with City College Norwich, and Otley campus with Suffolk New College, as an exciting opportunity to become an even stronger educational resource for students, both present and future. “We are absolutely committed to a solution that provides outstanding teaching and training opportunities, as well as strong finances to enable more investment and growth, and a truly inspiring business plan which propels the land-based industry to lead the way in the new competitive post-Brexit world of the future.” Mr Pendlington promised that both current College campuses will continue to run with a ‘business as usual’ approach throughout the coming months, while the consultation takes place. “The priority of the College board, the leadership team and all our dedicated staff is to ensure that our students continue to receive the level of teaching and learning they need and deserve, while the future of both campuses is secured.” Andrew Barnes, Chair of City College Norwich Corporation said: “The continuing dialogue we are having with employers from the agricultural sector gives us added confidence that land-based training in our region can and will flourish through this proposal. “We are looking forward to widening the conversation, through this public consultation, and to hearing what all members of the local community think of our plans. “Both City College Norwich and Easton and Otley College have a strong history, and it is our aim to maintain, develop and celebrate their individual strengths and specialisms following the merger. “After completion, we strongly believe the wider choice of courses and increased progression routes available will provide even more opportunities for young people to achieve their individual aspirations.” Chair of Suffolk New College Corporation, Roger Fern, said: “This is a real opportunity for people to have their say on the future of land-based education in Suffolk and Norfolk. “From our point of view, we are incredibly excited to be playing a part in supporting and shaping a dynamic new era for farming, land associated businesses and other key local industries through our new partnership with the Otley campus. “Looking ahead, we have ambitious plans for Otley and we will honour the farming and land-based legacy that has been created at Otley over many decades. “We believe that by joining forces with Otley, we will help create a new powerful legacy for land-based education - and education in general. “We want to continue to support New Anglia LEP priorities, maintain positive working relationships with our other educational partners, stakeholders and supporters and we will be seeking to create many new partnerships that will help place us at the very heart of our community.” A document setting out the full proposal, which includes how the University of East Anglia and College of West Anglia are set to become close working partners, can be found at www.eocmerger.co.uk. All details about the consultation, and how to make your views known, are found via the link, or by emailing ([email protected]). In addition, the document can be obtained from FOUR Agency, Hill House, 20 Hill House Road, Norwich NR1 4BE. The Principals will be available at both the Easton and the Otley campuses to discuss the merger with members of the public on the following dates: Easton Campus Otley Campus Date Time Date Time Tuesday 3rd September 13:00-18:00 Friday 6th September 08:00-13:00 Wednesday 11th September 13:00-18:00 Tuesday 10th September 13:00-18:00 Thursday 19th September 08:00-13:00 Tuesday 17th September 14:30-18:00 Wednesday 25th September 08:00-13:00 Tuesday 24th September 13:00-18:00 City College Norwich Suffolk New College Date Time Date Time Thursday 5th September 08:00-13:00 Wednesday 11th September 13:00-18:00 Friday 27th September 13:00-18:00 Thursday 19th September 08:00-13:00 Please report to the College’s reception at the Easton and the Otley Campuses. There will be other opportunities to meet the team to discuss the proposed merger and a link to these additional dates will be placed on the merger website. Replies to the consultation need to be received by midnight on Tuesday 1 October 2019. All three Colleges will consider all responses received by that date and will publish a summary of the consultation and its outcomes by 31 October 2019 (to be available at www.eocmerger.co.uk). -Ends- Notes to editors Opportunity for interviews For further information, or to arrange interviews with the Principals and Chairs of the Colleges’ governing bodies, please contact the FOUR Agency, Hill House, 20 Hill House Road, Norwich NR1 4BE: tel 01603 627294; email [email protected] An advance copy of the proposals (strictly embargoed until 00.01 Friday 30 August 2019) accompanies this media release. FE Commissioner’s Recommendation The decision to enter these discussions follows a report and recommendation from the Further Education Commissioner, Richard Atkins. He launched a business review last December with the intention of finding the best future for the College, following two disappointing Ofsted reports. The review had the active support of the Board and leadership team of Easton and Otley College, Norfolk and Suffolk county councils, the New Anglia LEP, and the NFU, with a wide range of business and community leaders being consulted throughout the process. The local steering group was chaired by Richard Atkins, the Further Education Commissioner. Membership of the steering group comprised Easton and Otley College’s Chair of Governors and Principal; representatives from Norfolk County Council, Suffolk County Council, the New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership and the Regional NFU; the Regional Schools Commissioner and representatives from the Education and Skills Funding Agency and the Department for Education (DfE). Visits and support throughout the process were provided by staff from the FE Commissioner’s teams. Easton and Otley College Easton and Otley College has campuses in Norfolk and Suffolk. It was formed in 2012, as a result of a merger of Easton College and Otley College. A specialist education and training provider in land-based courses such as agriculture, horticulture, countryside and animal studies, it has approximately 4,000 students. City College Norwich City College Norwich (CCN) has been providing education and training to meet the skills needed by Norfolk’s communities and employers for over 125 years. It has the widest range of courses in Norfolk, spanning every major industry sector apart from Agriculture, Horticulture and Animal Care. From September 2020, CCN will be among the first colleges to deliver the new T-Levels in all 3 routes. The key role of CCN in education and training in the region was strengthened in 2017 with its merger with Paston Sixth Form College. Today, around one in four 16 to 19-year-olds in Norfolk (26%) study with the College. In total it has over 9,100 students and has three campuses in Norwich and one in North Walsham. Suffolk New College Suffolk New College was officially opened in 2010. Currently the college (that was originally called Civic College and then Suffolk College) teaches over 4800 students and offers a range of apprenticeships, vocational courses, routes to higher education (thanks to strong links with the University of Suffolk) and leisure learning options.