KEETCH MEETS COLLEGE CHIEFS TO DISCUSS MERGER

10.08.06am GMT Tue 15th Feb 2005

Hereford's Lib Dem MP, Paul Keetch, visited Hereford's three Folly

Lane colleges on Friday to meet principals and students. He told the

three heads that he would oppose a merger of the colleges provided they address the key concerns of the LSC regarding viability and re investment in the Folly Lane site and urged them to co-operate more.

"My heart has always been against merging the colleges but they have to find ways of co-operating for the good of their students and the overall campus," said Mr Keetch who met Jonathan Godfrey, principal of the Sixth Form College, Richard Heatly the Art College's principal, and the acting principal of Herefordshire College of Technology, Ian Peake.

"I believe that there is a window of opportunity that could mean the

colleges remaining independent and preserving their separate ethos.

However all three need to be able to prove that they are each financially

viable and that they will co-operate to improve their buildings. They

must also be prepared to allow more movement of students between the

institutions."

"Other colleges nationally work closely together in federations and this

model could work in Hereford. Issues such as site maintenance and

building refurbishment could be linked, as could college marketing and

administration. This would allow the colleges to remain independent, but also make the most of the resources they receive."

Paul Keetch has also discussed his ideas with the Learning and Skills

Council and Advantage West Midlands. He will be following up his meeting with the three principals to encourage greater co-operation.

Ends