March to April 2022
Proposed college merger and consultation document The proposed merger of Greater Brighton Metropolitan College and Chichester College Group
Timeline 25 March 2022 Public consultation begins 27 April 2022 Public consultation closes Dr James Sarmecanic
Sue Berelowitz
Chairs’ foreword The proposed merger of Greater Brighton Metropolitan College (GB MET) and Chichester College Group (CCG) will create one of the strongest Further Education (FE) groups in the country – consisting of colleges in Brighton, Brinsbury, Chichester, Crawley, Haywards Heath, Shoreham and Worthing. We believe that by combining our expertise, knowledge, resources and passion for education, we can best serve the current and future needs of the diverse communities and employers we serve. Both Corporations have a shared vision of providing excellent technical, vocational, A Level and professional education, and are committed to delivering the best possible courses and services for both current and future students. Through this proposed merger we will be able to expand both our existing provision and our progression pathways, and enjoy the benefits of closer collaboration with local employers and stakeholders. This will provide exciting new routes into Higher Education (HE), a strengthened apprenticeship offer, and an expansion of our existing commercial courses and services, as well as growth of our international provision. Although we will form one Group, we are committed to retaining and enhancing the local identities of our individual colleges. We will share the very best in teaching and learning practices whilst ensuring each of our colleges remains focused on supporting its local community.
24 June 2022 Consultation outcome published 1 August 2022 Proposed merger date
Want to share your views? See page 17 to find out how
Contents Chairs’ foreword.....................................................2 Timeline..................................................................2
Your views are important This consultation document outlines our vision for merging our two organisations. We invite you to share your views on the proposal to ensure that we can create a college group that truly understands the needs of the people and businesses it serves — for the benefit of everyone who lives and works in our region. Sue Berelowitz | Chair of Governors, GB MET Dr James Sarmecanic | Chair of Governors, CCG
Our locations..........................................................4 Who we are | CCG..................................................6 Who we are | GB MET.............................................8 Why should CCG and GB MET merge?.................10 About the merger..................................................12 Benefits of the merger..........................................14 Statutory notice.....................................................16 Your views.............................................................17 Privacy statement.................................................18
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Chichester College 3
Brinsbury College
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Worthing College
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West Durrington Campus
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Crawley College
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Shoreham Airport Campus
Haywards Heath College
Broadwater Campus
Our locations
Central Brighton Campus
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The merger will create a dynamic, innovative and sustainable college group for West Sussex and Brighton & Hove. Our depth and breadth of quality delivery will attract learners from across the wider region and beyond.
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East Brighton Campus
Crawley
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A24 A23
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Haywards 5 Heath
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Shoreham-by-Sea A27
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Chichester Bognor Regis
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Worthing
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Brighton
Who we are Chichester College Group (CCG)
This follows the recent completion of a multi-million pound Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Centre at Crawley College, which has created a suite of innovative and interactive spaces and facilities for STEM subjects. It is anticipated new technologies will also be embedded into other subject areas, enabling a more creative space for learning.
CCG is the largest provider of FE in Sussex, with colleges in Brinsbury, Chichester, Crawley, Haywards Heath and Worthing. The Group also includes the commercial businesses First Steps Childcare Group — one of the largest childcare providers in West Sussex — and Anglia Examinations, as well as an international English Language School. CCG’s 1,600 employees educate and train around 15,000 full and part time students every year, and provide teaching excellence to meet the region’s skills needs. The Group works in partnership with over 1,500 employers, including multinational industry leaders such as Rolls Royce, Boeing and Thales, delivering apprenticeships, placements and commercial training to drive productivity and innovation.
15,000
1,600
1,500
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employees
employers
In May 2020, the Group was proud to be rated as ‘Outstanding’ in every area of Ofsted’s updated Education Inspection Framework. Inspectors highlighted that CCG’s ‘courses meet fully the demands of their local and regional communities’ and the ‘outstanding culture of inclusivity and respect’. Across its five colleges, the Group delivers a wide variety of courses, including A Levels, Level 3 vocational diplomas, university-level HE courses, apprenticeships, professional qualifications and leisure courses. CCG was among the first providers in the country to deliver the new T Level qualifications, which launched in 2020. The Group is a world leader in furniture-making and upholstery training. Over the past 15 years, Chichester College has built an innovative, employer-led curriculum which has strived for and achieved excellence in this highly specialist sector, training multiple gold medal winning students at WorldSkills. This success has recently been recognised as the best in the country, receiving the prestigious Queen’s Award in 2021. 6
2020 Rated Outstanding by Ofsted in all areas
Inclusivity is at the heart of the Group’s approach to learning, and this is never more evident than the creation of Chichester College’s award-winning Theatre Inc – an inclusive theatre company which delivers training to young people with additional learning requirements or who live with a range of conditions. The provision won an AoC Beacon Award in 2016, and has continued to go from strength to strength, growing across CCG with a second, sister company to open later this year at Crawley College.
The Group is also proud to offer a distinctive land-based provision at Brinsbury College (based near Pulborough). Studying in the stunning South Downs countryside, students are able to learn specialist subjects such as agriculture, horticulture, animal management, equine and blacksmithing & farriery in a modern forge. The College recently invested in a state-of-the-art dairy facility, ensuring that Brinsbury farm is at the forefront of the agricultural industry. Worthing College’s sporting dominance supports its approach to balancing academic studies with enriching activities that develop well-rounded students. The College is home to several sporting academies and a bulging trophy cabinet, with regional and national championship wins over recent years. In February 2022, the College announced a new partnership with Harlequins to offer an elite women’s rugby programme.
The newest addition to the CCG family is Haywards Heath College, which opened in September 2020. It is home to a fully-operational theatre, and is establishing an impressive performing arts department which has already seen dance students selected to perform with the English Youth Ballet.
Looking further afield, CCG has been welcoming students from across the world for more than 30 years, providing them with an outstanding range of English language, vocational, A Level and HE courses. This provision is growing once again following the pandemic, with students from more than 30 nationalities currently studying at the Group’s Chichester and Worthing campuses. The Group’s dedicated English Language School (CELS) is British Council accredited.
The Group is continuing to invest in future skills development, and a bid to create an Institute of Technology for the region has been approved by the Department for Education. The project — led by CCG in partnership with the University of Sussex, University of Brighton and North East Surrey College of Technology — has the support of many of the region’s biggest businesses, including NatWest Group, Gatwick Airport Limited, Wates Group and Irwin Mitchell, as well as the Gatwick Diamond Initiative and Coast to Capital LEP. It will create new, cutting-edge facilities for higher level technical training across a number of sectors. 7
Who we are
The Construction and Trades Centre at East Brighton Campus was opened in 2017, part-funded by a grant from Coast to Capital LEP, and provides life-size, realistic training environments, such as scaffolding rigs, workshops and large working areas for courses in carpentry & joinery, electrical, painting & decorating, and plumbing.
Greater Brighton Metropolitan College (GB MET)
GB MET is also a leading provider of English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) courses in Brighton, from Pre-Entry up to Level 2, as well as integrated skills courses to support students with literacy and employability skills.
GB MET was created from the merger of Northbrook College and City College Brighton & Hove in 2017, drawing together 150 years of educational heritage, history and experience.
In addition, GB MET is one of just 21 colleges nationwide to be a Mathematics Centre of Excellence; fundamental in designing and developing teaching resources, and demonstrating best practice to improve mathematics for post-16 learners.
The College employs approximately 1,000 staff who educate and support over 9,000 full and part time students, and work with over 800 employers to deliver on their training needs.
9,000
1,000
800
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employees
employers
Operating across five campuses in Brighton, Shoreham and Worthing, the College delivers a comprehensive range of courses, including: qualifications for school-leavers; apprenticeships; university degrees; professional qualifications; and leisure & hobby courses; as well as a small international provision. GB MET has two distinctive and vibrant creative industries departments in Brighton and Worthing which offer a wide range of FE courses and BA (Hons) degrees across art, design & media, theatre arts, and music pathways. Specialist facilities at the West Durrington Campus include: a 160-seat fully operational theatre, The Northbrook Theatre; dedicated workshop and studio space for each pathway, from dance to textiles, prop making to hair & makeup, photography to games design; and 20 music performing and recording studios designed by leading industry specialists. At Central Brighton Campus, the completion of the recent multi-million pound redevelopment — part-funded by a grant from Coast to Capital Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) — has created brand new studios and workshops, with dedicated facilities for specialisms such as: creative media; fashion design; film and broadcast; photography; and 3D technology. 8
GB MET is a Mathematics Centre of Excellence
All of the College’s creative courses are accredited by the prestigious University of the Arts London (UAL), placing GB MET at the cutting-edge of arts education.
At the Broadwater Campus in Worthing, the College boasts a thriving uniformed services provision. GB MET was the first FE College to be chosen to work with the Royal Navy in the capacity of a Combined Cadet Force – Royal Naval contingent. This allows students to develop a wide range of skills vital to whichever uniformed services career they choose to pursue. The site is also home to a new partnership with Worthing FC, delivering a full-time football and education course, which gives aspiring young players the opportunity to combine their academic studies with a comprehensive football training schedule. The College is also proud to have commercial hair & beauty salons, restaurants and training kitchens in both Worthing and Brighton, offering invaluable training opportunities for students to serve paying customers.
In terms of partnerships, in addition to UAL, GB MET also works with University of Brighton to deliver its PGCEs and motorsport engineering degrees. The College is unique in its aeronautics and engineering facilities. The Shoreham Campus is set in a hangar at Shoreham Airport and houses seven aircraft, race-ready sports cars, and state-of-the-art automotive diagnostic equipment. The site also houses a brand new electrical vehicle training centre which will ensure motor vehicle students are trained in line with the government agenda of all new vehicles being electric by 2030. 9
SUSTAINABLE INDUSTRIES
Why should GB MET and CCG merge?
Working together to boost skills training CCG and GB MET are already collaborating as part of a Sussex consortium to improve and develop skills training in sustainable industries.
The recommendation for GB MET to merge with another provider was one of the outcomes of a Structures and Prospects Appraisal led by the FE Commissioner. Following an extensive and rigorous process, the GB MET Board chose CCG as its preferred merger partner due to its shared vision and values.
The consortium has been awarded more than £7million as part of the Department for Education’s Strategic Development Fund to deliver five projects focused on green technologies. GB MET is leading the project on electrical vehicle training, including establishing a new centre of excellence. The College is also supporting CCG to develop further centres at Chichester and Crawley Colleges to ensure motor vehicle students have the skills they need to meet the changing needs of the industry.
The Board’s decision also recognised how combining the expertise, knowledge and resources from both organisations would create a strong, dynamic and financially resilient FE group which is able to meet the skills needs of the region both today and in the future. The proposal to merge is further supported through the vision set out in the Government’s FE White Paper ‘Skills for Jobs’. Released in January 2021, the Paper aims to strengthen the links between employers and FE providers in the context of the economic recovery required following the pandemic. The Government outlined an expectation for colleges, employers and other providers to work together to create and deliver ‘Local Skills Improvement Plans’. Forming a combined college group across Brighton & Hove and West Sussex will drive the supply of skills to the local economy and its communities through further innovation, collaboration and the sharing of best practice. It will create a skills ecosystem to support and deliver the Government’s priority of lifelong learning. A merged group will also allow for synergies in teaching and learning, creating communities of vocational practice, whilst also strengthening the subject expertise amongst the individual colleges through increased collaboration and staff development.
CCG is leading the development and implementation of a multi-strand curriculum for the teaching of alternative energy sources and resources, including hydrogen technology. Through Brinsbury College, it will also be embedding land-based sustainability training into agriculture and horticulture courses to help transition land management towards a zero carbon agenda.
GB MET’s mission of ‘Unlocking potential. Celebrating ambition. Transforming lives’ resonates well with CCG’s mission to ‘Change lives through learning’.
Both groups are also involved in projects to host decarbonisation academies and deliver carbon literacy courses. This is an excellent example of both Groups coming together with employers to identify gaps in provision and proactively secure government funding to meet these needs and enhance innovation within the curriculum.
The consortium, of which CCG and GB MET are part of, has been awarded more than
£7million to develop skills training in sustainable industries.
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About the merger A single college group for West Sussex and Brighton & Hove will:
Create a pooled resource of high quality teaching expertise and best practice that fosters an ethos of educational excellence. Support GB MET in its journey to delivering an Ofsted-rated ‘Outstanding’ service to the students, employers and businesses it serves. Allow the distinctive curriculum at each of GB MET existing sites to be strengthened and further developed in line with the particular needs of the communities they support. Deliver progression pathways to support lifelong learning within a regional skills ecosystem. Provide access to shared connections and opportunities in the business community.
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Deliver a stable financial position for GB MET, making best use of public funds and enabling increased investment in learning and training opportunities. Support CCG’s model for sustainable growth by increasing the number of learners and diversifying its products and services with particular opportunities to grow apprenticeship delivery and HE. Deliver economies of scale that will protect the Group from the turbulence of funding changes and provide sufficient cash to invest in the future of its colleges. Create a significant voice in the FE sector to influence both local and national government policy.
Offer enhanced opportunities to access new funding streams, responding to government funding priorities and any future demands on specific sectors. Provide a flexible model for growth that is better placed to adapt to the changing needs of the region and respond to the priorities of the LEP and Local Authorities. Provide opportunities for the Group to expand its commercial portfolio, including developing its position globally with a diverse provision for international students.
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Benefits of the merger
For businesses and employers Building on shared strengths to become the first port of call for regional and local businesses to access skills, training and people. An enhanced employer experience through a centralised account management approach to sales and marketing, with local expertise retained at each college.
For students Further enhance the quality of the student experience and learning outcomes. Enhanced learning opportunities for students across the region, to become first choice for employers and universities. The provision of additional progression pathways for students across the Group, up to HE. Growth of provision, including HE, apprenticeships, international provision and professional/commercial courses. The establishment of Centres of Excellence across the Group, building on strengths in creative industries, engineering, construction, health & social care and land-based studies. Opportunities for learners to access specialist facilities and resources across the Group.
For staff
A simplified and enhanced approach to engaging with business membership groups, such as the Institute of Directors, Chambers of Commerce, the Confederation of Business Industry and the Federation of Small Businesses.
Benefit from shared best practice and resources, and peer support.
Access to more bespoke and responsive training solutions through a single point of contact.
Increased investment in teaching and learning practices.
The provision of work-ready young people and graduates with the skills required by local employers.
Further opportunities to engage with teaching and learning roadshows.
The provision of a broader range of apprenticeships.
The utilisation of resources for the community, including sport and leisure facilities.
A future curriculum designed to better meet the needs of businesses and employers across the region through increased flexibility.
Opportunities to combine commercial operations, covering conferencing, professional courses and facilities hire, for the benefit of the community.
Joint employer-led Skills Advisory Panels to shape and anticipate future curriculum and skills needs.
Develop and build upon existing partnerships for progression to local universities through a new regional strategic alliance between FE and HE.
Access to CCG’s curriculum planning and budgeting process to support curriculum innovation, efficiency and growth. Wider range of skills development and increased opportunities to specialise.
Access to meaningful work experience and placements through partnerships with local businesses and employers.
Enhanced Continuing Professional Development (CPD) and career progression opportunities for staff, including leadership development.
Remaining inclusive and championing equality, diversity and inclusion.
Increased career opportunities as a result of the increased scale of operations.
Opportunities to combine and enhance international delivery through joint marketing, agent networks and new products, and using Brighton as a leading destination for international students.
Access to CCG’s long-established management development programme. Centralised resources and expertise for bid writing and regional campaigns.
Access to specialist provision and resources across the Group. The development of Centres of Excellence for priority sectors, including: Green technologies Construction – with a focus on decarbonisation and sustainability STEM – with a focus on engineering, ICT and Digital Sport and Leisure Creative industries Travel & tourism – with a focus on the visitor economy Health & social care and health science Business and management – aligned to the professional services
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For the community and stakeholders The provision of more high quality and relevant learning opportunities.
Continued close engagement with Coast to Capital LEP. Positioning of the Group to deliver against priorities outlined in the FE White Paper, including Higher Technical Qualifications, Local Skills Improvement Plans and capital bids. Attract additional funding through bidding for new initiatives and delivery as part of a group with wider geographic reach. Strong and streamlined relationships with Local Authorities to support local needs and strategies. Directly support the priorities of the Greater Brighton Economic Board and Coastal West Sussex Partnership Board. Continued relationships with local stakeholders, including schools, sixth forms, other colleges, training providers and the third sector. 15
Statutory Notice Further and Higher Education Act 1992 Notice is hereby given by the Corporation of Greater Brighton Metropolitan College (Littlehampton Road, Worthing, BN12 6NU), in accordance with the Further Education Corporations (Publication of Proposals) (England) Regulations 2012 (S1 2012/1157), of the proposal for the transfer of the property, rights and liabilities to the Corporation of Chichester College Group (Westgate Fields, Chichester, PO19 1SB) and the subsequent dissolution of the Corporation of Greater Brighton Metropolitan College. Greater Brighton Metropolitan College is a General Further Education College which provides education and skills training for students aged 16 and over. In 2020/21 it enrolled 9,000 students in total, comprising of 3,000 16–18-year-olds (FE learners), 550 apprentices, 600 university-level learners (HE) and 4,850 adults (part-time and full-time).
Your views The consultation process will pro-actively engage individuals, businesses and other stakeholders located within the college communities.
Governors at both Corporations invite you to share your views on the proposal by responding to the questions below. All expressed views will be carefully considered. You can share your feedback by completing the form online at gbmc.ac.uk/merger or by emailing your responses to the following questions to merger@gbmc.ac.uk. All responses must be received by 27 April 2022 to be considered as part of the consultation process.
Your name Preferred contact (email / postal address)* Your organisation (if applicable) Please select the category(ies) which best describe(s) you: GB MET student
Dissolution of the Corporation of Greater Brighton Metropolitan College is proposed following the conclusion of an FE Commissioner-led Structure and Prospects Appraisal and a decision in March 2021 by the board of the Greater Brighton Metropolitan College to pursue merger with Chichester College Group.
CCG student
The date proposed for the dissolution of the Corporation is 1 August 2022.
Trade Union representative
All students at Greater Brighton Metropolitan College who have not yet completed their course of study by the date of the proposed dissolution will continue their education in the merged college on the same campus where they studied immediately prior to the dissolution of the Corporation of Greater Brighton Metropolitan College. A copy of the consultation document on this proposal is available at gbmc.ac.uk/merger or via email to merger@gbmc.ac.uk.
Please see page 18 for our privacy statement.
Prospective student or parent/carer/guardian GB MET staff CCG staff Parent/Carer/Guardian School FE institution HE institution
1. Do you agree or disagree that the proposed merger of GB MET and CCG will deliver the best provision of education for the region? Agree | Disagree | Unsure 1.1. If you answered Agree What advantages do you see from the proposed merger? 1.2. If you answered Disagree What disadvantages do you see from the proposed merger? What alternative arrangements would you suggest? 1.3.If you answered Unsure Please tell us why. 2. Do you have any ideas or suggestions for improving the Group’s engagement with the communities it serves? 3. Please share any further comments you have on the merger proposal.
Private training provider Employer / Local business Local government Government body
The consultation period runs from 25 March to 27 April 2022. All responses and representations must be received by the closing date through:
Other * Please supply a contact address if you would like us to acknowledge your response.
completing the online response form at gbmc.ac.uk/merger or email to merger@gbmc.ac.uk A summary of the feedback from the dissolution notice consultation and the outcome will be published by 24 June 2022 on both the Greater Brighton Metropolitan College and Chichester College Group websites and be available free of charge to anyone who requests a copy.
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Privacy statement Greater Brighton Metropolitan College takes its obligations under the Data Protection Act very seriously and will always ensure personal data is collected, handled, stored and shared in a secure manner. To provide you with information about the processing of personal data, the College has created privacy notices for you to clearly understand how the College uses and keeps secure confidential and personal information. One of our responsibilities is to tell you about the different ways in which we use your personal information, what information we collect (and the basis for doing so), why we collect it, where we collect it from and whether (and with who) we will share it. The personal information you provide is part of a consultation process. It will not be published as part of the outcome of the consultation. Only comments and responses will be made public. Your personal information will be kept for 12 months and then destroyed in a secure manner. You retain the following rights: the right to access your personal information, using the College’s Subject Access Request process. the right to have inaccurate personal information changed. the right to restrict the processing of your personal information. the right to object to the processing of your personal information. The right to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner’s Office in relation to how Greater Brighton Metropolitan College has processed your data. You can do this by visiting – https://ico.org.uk/make-a-complaint Our Data Protection Officer is Shaun Mallin. If you have any questions about the ways in which we use your personal information, please contact our Data Protection Officer at DPO@gbmc.ac.uk or by phone on 01903 273047 or by post at Greater Brighton Metropolitan College, West Durrington Campus, Littlehampton Road, Goring-By-Sea, Worthing, West Sussex, BN12 6NU 18