A troubled college group is set to lose another one of its campuses at the end of this academic year, FE Week can reveal.
Hull College Group has taken the decision to close Goole College after finding that it is running at a loss and deeming the premises to be of “low quality”.
The move will involve Hull College dropping the word “group” from its name, as it will now only consist of one site having demerged from its other campus, Harrogate College, in 2019.
Former Dudley College boss Lowell Williams was employed by Hull College Group earlier this year as a consultant to work on an estates strategy, and has now taken the reins as interim chief executive.
In an interview with FE Week he said: “There is no need for the Goole College site.
“It is running on a loss and there are better options for young people and adults locally, so the college has made the decision to stop trading at the end of this academic year.”
A statement from the college added: “The detailed arrangements will be made available in due course as we work with East Riding Council and other local providers to ensure an ongoing place for all of our Goole College learners.
“The corporation have identified that Goole College is not in a position to best meet the future needs of learners and having maintained this loss making provision for some time, the college is no longer in a position to do so.”
Goole has been a part of Hull College since before the turn of the millennium, and according to its website, currently runs courses up to level 3 in areas such as hairdressing, mechanical engineering and welding, and health and social care; as well as ESOL, foundation courses, and higher education courses in teacher education and early years.
Williams said the college was informing staff of the decision this morning and insisted there are “significant redeployment opportunities” to the college’s main site, so he is “hoping but cannot guarantee” that there will not be any redundancies.
The interim chief executive said the college will speak with stakeholders about the decision, including the Conservative Brigg and Goole MP Andrew Percy, who has been approached for comment.
Recently published board minutes for October 2020 for Hull College also suggest it is looking at moving away from its city centre campus. The minutes said: “Governors discussed whether the college should consider a move away from its current city centre site with the interim chief executive explaining that this was not yet a theme that had been explored but he was preparing to engage in those conversations with key stakeholders.”
Hull College Group has run into a number of problems in recent years and received a £42 million bailout from the government in 2018 as part of a Fresh Start process.
Its financial troubles were what led to Harrogate College being transferred to the Leeds-based Luminate Education Group in 2019.
FE Commissioner intervention is ongoing at the college.
It’s a bit of a low blow for people who can’t afford to get elsewhere I’m a student at goole college who travels 10 miles a day just to get to and from this college let alone anywhere else goole college is a great college and I’m sad to see it get closed down.
This is such a shame for Goole, it is a fantastic college with great tutors. Where are people who live in Goole and the surrounding suppose to further their education locally. They are building new homes so would actually make sense to have a further education facility.
“There is no need for the Goole College site“. ???
What an insulting comment for all of the staff and students at Goole college not to mention the local community and businesses who will also suffer the impact of the college closing.
Very short sighted decision given that there is huge investment in Goole and the immediate area from Siemens and Beal Homes who will be looking to employ apprentices from the surrounding area.
Goole college sits on a prime development site so no doubt another new housing development is more than likely going to appear on the site??