Two south west colleges have announced their intention to merge in January.
Exeter College and Petroc today launched a public consultation on their proposal to create a large college group in the region that would serve more than 16,000 learners, employs nearly 2,000 staff and have a turnover in excess of £100 million.
The pair first explored merging in 2015 and reignited the talks this April.
If approved, the new organisation would be known as the Exeter and North Devon Colleges Group (ENDC) from January 5, 2026.
The proposal is a voluntary merger, with neither college in any form of intervention. But Petroc was downgraded to ‘requires improvement’ by Ofsted last year and experienced financial challenges that led to staff redundancies and the resignation of former principal Sean Mackney.
Exeter College is judged ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted and is double the size of Petroc in terms of student numbers, staff and income.
A spokesperson said that by combining their resources and expertise, the colleges “aim to create a stronger, more resilient group with the capacity to invest in learners, staff and facilities, while responding more effectively to local and regional skills needs”.
The new group would oversee two sixth form provisions in Exeter and North Devon, alongside an expanded apprenticeship, adult, SEND and higher technical education offer across the county.
Petroc’s Barnstaple campus would become known as North Devon College, while Exeter College would retain its name.
But Petroc’s Tiverton campus will become the “Centre for Progression, Tiverton”, with a new focus of supporting young people with additional learning needs.
John Laramy, CEO of Exeter College, said: “This is an exciting opportunity to create the best place-based college group in England.
“By joining forces, each college aims to deliver even greater opportunities for learners, employers and communities across Devon; underpinned by the capacity, capability and resilience offered by being part of a larger group.”
Under the plans, Petroc would dissolve on January 5.
All students at Petroc who have not yet completed their course 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 Petroc”, the consultation document said.
This will affect around 4,526 students.
Kurt Hintz, interim CEO of Petroc, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity to pool our strengths and knowledge, building economic resilience and maintaining outstanding sixth-form provision on both sides of the county.
“This merger will give learners more choice, better progression routes and access to specialist facilities, while employers gain a single, stronger partner that is responsive to local skills needs.”
The public consultation will run from today until September 30, 2025. The outcome will be published by November 30.
Another large college merger completed in neighbouring Somerset on August 1. Strode College has now dissolved and joined Bridgwater and Taunton College to create the University Centre Somerset College Group (UCS College Group).
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