Portsmouth College and Highbury College plan merger

Portsmouth’s two colleges are looking to merge to ‘create a city-wide college of the future’.
Penny Wycherley, interim Principal at Highbury College, is 'delighted' as the prospect of the merger.

Picture: Sarah StandingPenny Wycherley, interim Principal at Highbury College, is 'delighted' as the prospect of the merger.

Picture: Sarah Standing
Penny Wycherley, interim Principal at Highbury College, is 'delighted' as the prospect of the merger. Picture: Sarah Standing

The governing boards of Portsmouth College and Highbury College have agreed to continue merger discussions after the government’s FE commissioner Richard Atkins gave the plan his blessing.

Following the assessment carried out by Portsmouth City Council, the Solent Local Enterprise Partnership and the Education and Skills Funding Agency, the commissioner is formally recommending a merger of the two colleges to the Minister of State for Apprenticeships and Skills.

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Portsmouth College principal, Simon Barrable, is excited by the prospect of a 'one city, one college' vision'.

Picture: Habibur RahmanPortsmouth College principal, Simon Barrable, is excited by the prospect of a 'one city, one college' vision'.

Picture: Habibur Rahman
Portsmouth College principal, Simon Barrable, is excited by the prospect of a 'one city, one college' vision'. Picture: Habibur Rahman
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Nick Wynne, chair of governors at Portsmouth College, said: ‘This is a wonderful opportunity to bring together two great complementary colleges that will enhance the quality and choice of courses for the learners in and around our city.’

It was a sentiment shared by his Highbury counterpart, Paul Quigley, who said: ‘These are truly exciting times and we have the opportunity to build a stronger, more sustainable college to support the educational journeys of local young people and adults and in turn the economy and prosperity of Portsmouth and its surrounding communities as a whole.’

After the proposed merger received the unanimous backing of the commissioner’s team, subject to ministerial approval, the next stage will be to consult stakeholders about the plan. This includes current staff, students and parents as well as local employers, universities and secondary schools.

College leaders are ‘excited’ by the proposal.

Simon Barrable, principal at Portsmouth College, commented: ‘These are inspiring times for post-16 education and training in Portsmouth and we now have the chance to realise a one city, one college vision.’

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Penny Wycherley, interim principal at Highbury College, added: ‘We are delighted to be developing our partnership with Portsmouth College and moving to combining further our strengths.

‘The next stage includes all the detailed checks and discussions that are necessary in bringing together two organisations who are so important to the city. We will now be inviting the views of the wider college communities to share their thoughts, ideas and ambitions.’

Whatever the outcomes of the consultation process, both college leaders wanted to ‘reassure’ current and prospective students that for the next academic year ‘places are safe and there will be no changes in the day-to-day operations of the colleges’.

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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