Following a review of Further Education provision across Cheshire and Warrington, four FE Colleges (South Cheshire College, West Cheshire College, Mid Cheshire College and Warrington Collegiate) have agreed to begin a merger process to create a new FE College for Cheshire and Warrington by 2018.

The recommendation for a FE College for Cheshire and Warrington follows a Joint Area Review of post-16 provision in the region led by the Government’s FE Commissioner Sir David Collins.

The proposal will build on the key strengths of each College, creating a stronger organisation delivering high quality education and skills training for learners and employers. The merger will also create a financially robust College that will be more efficient and effective than the existing separate Colleges and maximise the benefits to learners and make best use of public funding.

Sir David Collins, says: "A FE College for Cheshire and Warrington has the full support of all four Colleges, as well as local authorities and the Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP). The merged College can, through its collective strengths, ensure consistency of quality as well as sustainability and resilience against the challenges faced by all Colleges.”

The new College will have campuses across the three local authorities of Chester and Cheshire West, Cheshire East and Warrington and will provide even greater choice for learners and respond to the needs of the regional economy as a whole.

It is proposed that the creation of a FE College for Cheshire and Warrington, will be a phased approach starting with the merger of South Cheshire College and West Cheshire College by January 2017. Followed by Mid Cheshire College by August 2017 and Warrington Collegiate by January 2018.

Jasbir Dhesi, Principal and Chief Executive of South Cheshire College, says: "This is an exciting opportunity to develop post 16 education provision across the region that will serve students, employers and local communities for decades to come.

"The driving force behind the Government’s Joint Area Reviews is to ensure that as a region, as is the case across the country, we have the right capacity and high quality provision of education in place to meet the needs of students and employers.”

Helen Nellist, Acting Principal and Chief Executive at West Cheshire College, adds: "This is a unique opportunity for all Colleges to collaborate and create a new vision for the region’s Further Education sector. Together we will ensure the region’s prosperity and future growth through skills development, training and education.”

A merger steering group will be formed shortly with the task of working and consulting with all stakeholders in the development of proposals for the new College.

Macclesfield College of Further Education is currently reviewing their options, one is to join the proposed FE College for Cheshire and Warrington, and the other is to join the LTE group.