1 March 2010

Q. I have heard Barry College and Coleg Glan Hafren are merging, is this true
Barry College and Coleg Glan Hafren are investigating the creation of a new joint college of Further Education serving both Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan, through a proposed merger of the two existing colleges. The decision on whether to merge will not be made by the colleges, working in partnership with the Department of Children, Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills (DCELLS), until later this year.

Both colleges expect that if a merger were to go ahead, learners should see many benefits, including more opportunity to progress in their study and access to more facilities and support.

If a merger is to go ahead, it is expected that staff, learners and employers will begin to see the benefits of the merger process from September 2011 onwards.

Q. If the colleges did merge, would there still be a college in Barry and Cardiff?
At this stage of preparing the detailed Outline Business Case there are a number of merger possibilities being discussed, which depend on the availability of funding and the range of courses to be offered in the new College. However, in their proposal both colleges believe it is vital that a new college has sites in both Barry and Cardiff to give the biggest benefit to learners and employers.

Q. How are existing students likely to be affected?
If a merger is to go ahead, it is expected that staff, learners and employers will begin to see the benefits of the merger process from September 2011 onwards.

The needs of all students already on a course or starting courses from now to September 2011 will be fully considered if a merger goes ahead and they will be able to continue on their chosen course and gain their full qualification.

Students learning at the colleges may find they have more opportunity to progress in their study and access to more facilities and support.  

Q. What does this mean for anyone applying to Barry College or Coleg Glan Hafren?
Applications for both colleges will continue to be processed as usual from now to summer 2011. Anyone who has applied for a course, or secured a place on a course, at either Barry College or Coleg Glan Hafren will not be affected.

Each year courses in both colleges are offered subject to viability - there being enough students enrolled onto a course for it to run. This will continue to be the case though it is hoped that a new College would be able to offer more choice of courses to a wider range of learners.

Q. How has the merger proposal come about and when could it happen?

• In September 2008, WAG (Welsh Assembly Government) published the "Transforming Education and Training Provision in Wales" report. This report requested that colleges submit Strategic Outline Proposals, by early 2009, to collaborate to establish "regional networks" of post-16 skills specialism; and "merge or form formal federations" to maximise learner benefits.
• In November and December 2008 Barry College and Coleg Glan Hafren jointly commissioned external consultants to research and aid the colleges' response to the Transformation Agenda. This included a stakeholder consultation involving around 40 key stakeholders in Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan, such as universities, local councils and employers, while all college staff were invited to attend focus groups.
• By January 15^th 2009, following positive feedback from the consultation, a report was submitted to WAG's Department of Children, Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills (DCELLS) proposing the investigation of a merger between Barry College and Coleg Glan Hafren, with a request that funds are provided to cover any associated costs to fully realise the potential of a new college.
• In March 2009, DCELLS provided formal feedback welcoming the Strategic Outline Proposal and asked the colleges to prepare a more detailed business appraisal for submission to DCELLS later in 2009.
• Following this business appraisal, in September 2009 the governing bodies of both colleges agreed to move to the next stage of the merger proposal, the preparation of the Outline Business Case.
• Between September 2009 and Autumn 2010 both Colleges are continuing to work together towards the creation of a new college, through a potential merger, to serve as an inclusive learning network for Cardiff and the Vale. This detailed investigation, to put together the Outline Business Case, will involve working together to prepare a business plan for merger, an outline of funding required, a joint Estates strategy, a mapping of the curriculum and a postcode analysis showing where students travel from.
• If a merger is to go ahead, the Colleges will be run as normal for now and it is expected that staff, learners and employers will begin to see the benefits of the merger process from September 2011 onwards.

Q. How will people keep up to date about this?
The governing bodies and senior management teams of Barry College and Coleg Glan Hafren believe that it is vital to ensure all those affected by a potential merger - including staff, students, employers and the wider community - are kept up to date.

Consultation with all these groups is vital to ensure any new college meets everyone's needs and reaches its potential.

All staff will be kept fully informed about developments during the forthcoming year through online information, meetings and discussions around these matters.  Existing students, employer contacts and applicants of the college will also be kept up to date via online information and direct contact where appropriate.

'Frequently Asked Questions' and updates will also be available on both college's websites.