Another college has joined the Activate Learning college group after a recommendation by the FE commissioner.

Guildford College Group’s three colleges at Merrist Wood, Farnham Sixth Form College and Guildford College will join Activate Learning’s other college sites, which span Oxfordshire, Berkshire and now Surrey.

Activate Learning said the merger “ensures long-term security for the Surrey-based colleges”. After two FE commissioner interventions at Guildford College, it was recommended that the college merge with another institution. It was expected that the merger would be completed by the end of 2018, however it was delayed.

Last March, Bracknell and Wokingham College joined Activate Learning. It joined City of Oxford College, Reading College and Banbury and Bicester College in the college grouping.

Read more: Guildford College Group plans merger with Activate Learning

More news: Activate Learning becomes 35th member of Collab Group

Background: Bracknell and Wokingham College to join Activate Learning

Sally Dicketts, chief executive of Activate Learning, said the merger would help to drive growth in the local economy.

She added: “Further education colleges have always been the engine that drives social mobility, providing training and education to those who want to learn new skills and improve themselves.

“At Activate Learning, we have focused on working with businesses to help shape the education we provide and ensure the skills and attributes our learners leave college with are the skills and attributes that employers need. This is an approach we will take with us into Guildford, developing a rich talent pool for the benefit of local communities and the businesses that serve them.

‘Fresh start’

Cheri Ashby, a group executive director at Activate Learning who will become the new head of campus at Guildford College Group, has been working closely with staff over the past several months as the merger was finalised.

She added: “The merger represents a fresh start with a new focus on the future, with the benefits of being part of a successful, ambitious organisation focused on changing lives through learning. The merger will bring stability to the colleges and greater professional development opportunities for staff and learning opportunities for students.”

John Denning, the outgoing chair of governors for Guildford College Group Corporation, said he welcomed the new partnership. 

He said: “The Guildford corporation members believe that Activate Learning is well placed to build on the improvements over the last couple of years to meet the education and training needs of students, employers and the wider community.”