Long Road Sixth Form College in Cambridge is consulting on plans to co-create a new multi-academy trust with a college in Essex.
The proposed trust, which would be co-created with The Sixth Form College in Colchester, would be called The Sixth Form Colleges Trust.
The colleges say there are no plans to alter the education provision or admissions criteria at either site, with both retaining their names and identities.
However, the proposal would deliver an immediate saving of around £700,000 as the college would then be able to reclaim VAT. They also hope that operating as a trust will help in procuring services such as energy, IT and legal services.
Long Road Sixth Form College and The Sixth Form College Colchester have participated in CENBASE, a peer review/quality improvement partnership, for more than 14 years.
A statement released on behalf of the governors of Long Road Sixth Form College and The Sixth Form College, Colchester said: “We are pleased to share our exciting plans for the future. Our vision is to create a dynamic, innovative partnership of inclusive sixth form colleges, making a positive contribution to post-16 learning in the Eastern region and beyond. We want the trust to focus clearly on the needs of 16- to
18-year-old students.”
In its consultation documents, the colleges said: “The additional staffing capacity and increased funding that will come from working as a trust will support our commitment to provide the best education we can for all our students. Together, we will educate over 6,000, employ over 400 staff, and manage an income of close to £30m.
“By pooling our resources and experience, our aim is to develop ever more effective strategies to reduce disadvantage and enable every student to thrive.
“Our goal is to empower every student to achieve their unique potential. We want our students to leave our trust ready to progress, equipped with the skills, knowledge and understanding to enjoy enriching life and to make a positive difference in the world.”
Both colleges provide education to 16-19 year-olds with a range of A-levels, Applied General and GCSE qualifications offered. Long Road currently has 2,616 students on its roll compared with 3,215 students at The Sixth Form College.
The colleges say the proposal will benefit students by offering a more extensive range of enrichment activities, including joint trips.
Students will also have access to increased opportunities for work-related learning through a centralised network of employers and businesses. It is also hoped that the development of existing partnerships with universities will enhance the pathways into higher education for the colleges’ students.
For staff, the colleges say there would be “many more career opportunities” than one institution can offer alone.
The colleges acknowledge that other facilities may want to join the trust in the future, but say they are “not seeking to empire build”.
The consultation will close on 17 May at midday. Views can be shared at consultation.longroad.ac.uk.
The results of the consultation will be published on 4 July, with the proposed date for the creation of the trust earmarked for 1 September.
