ALTON College is considering a merger with Basingstoke College of Technology.

The aim of any such union would be to create a larger, more resilient and efficient combined unit, working across two sites, but which will be better placed to enhance and develop existing academic and vocational courses for school leavers.

The merger proposal comes as a result of a Government review of post-16 education across England “to ensure providers are financially stable in the longer term, that they are run efficiently, and are well positioned to meet the present and future needs of individual students”.

The north and mid-Hampshire area is served by four sixth-form colleges (Alton College, Peter Symonds at Winchester, Queen Mary’s College at Basingstoke, and the Sixth Form College Farnborough) and two general further education colleges (Basingstoke College of Technology and Farnborough College of Technology) as well as a specialist land-based provider at Sparsholt.

In recognising the “need to change”, at a time when the school leaving age has been raised to 18 unless starting an apprenticeship or traineeship, and with some schools re-opening sixth forms, the area review concluded that a merger between Alton College and Basingstoke College of Technology would enhance the resilience of both to the impact of increased competition.

It would also, it was felt, enable better support for priority areas of the local enterprise partnership area and local authority and support Basingstoke as a growth town, Whitehill and Bordon as a designated ‘step-up’ town, and the development of the construction skills training at the Future Skills Centre in Bordon.

The north and mid-Hampshire area review was one of 40 across England conducted by local steering groups comprising principals and governors, further education and sixth-form college commissioners, local authorities, local enterprise partnerships and regional schools commissioners. The first of its kind in this area of education, it focused on the need to transition toward “larger, more resilient and efficient colleges which are able to support greater specialisation and higher levels of expertise to ensure progression for learners through professional and technical routes”.

The review began last autumn and concluded in January with one of the recommendations that “Alton College and Basingstoke College of Technology explore the opportunities that working together could realise for local students”, through a process of due diligence and examination, expected to take around 18 months.

Sara Russell, principal at Alton College, explained: “The recommendation is the outcome of many months of work by the steering committee. We are excited to be exploring the possibilities that working with Basingstoke College of Technology and enhancing the academic and vocational curriculum provision at both sites could bring for students. We are currently in the first phase of investigation which includes working together on providing apprenticeships in the new Future Skills Centre at Bordon and Whitehill.”

Anthony Bravo, principal at Basingstoke College of Technology, echoed Ms Russell’s comments, saying: “There is potential for the colleges to blend and develop their respective academic and vocational offers alongside their existing provision, while maintaining their strong branding and respectively impressive campuses.”

Alton College has been delivering A-levels and vocational courses for nearly 40 years after being officially opened by Mark Carlisle, the then Secretary of State, on May 23, 1980. It has been graded “outstanding” in all areas in the past three inspections with around 2,000 learners attending courses from up to 82 different schools across four counties each year.

More than 80 per cent of A-level leavers go on to achieve a first or upper second-class degree at university with 29 per cent of those achieving a first-class degree (the national average for sixth forms and schools with sixth form is 22 per cent). Notable alumnae include MP?Yvette Cooper, previously at Eggar’s School; Laura Jurd, award-winning jazz trumpeter (Amery Hill); Russel Howard, TV comedian (Perins School, Alresford); and Chris Wood, England cricketer (Amery Hill).

Independent research by EMSI Economic Analysts has found every £1 invested in the college manifests as £3.40 contribution to the local economy, and that the total economic impact is £147.9m per year, representing half of one per cent of the overall Hampshire economy. Market research from RCU Vector shows the college is first choice in North East Hampshire for studying science, technology, engineering and maths – otherwise known as STEM?subjects.

As a further education college, Basingstoke College of Technology’s core focus is providing high-quality vocational education and training, meeting local skills needs, tackling skill shortages, employability and providing progression to higher education and further training opportunities. The college has strong links with businesses in the region and 97 per cent of its learners go on to achieve positive destinations at the end of their course, including many attending prestigious universities.

It is the largest apprenticeship provider in the area and offers a comprehensive range of vocational training opportunities from its Basingstoke campus.

Basingstoke College of Technology has been rated as “good” by Ofsted in its last two inspections, commended for the quality of teaching and the innovative use of technology in the classroom.

In 2015, Basingstoke College of Technology became one of a small number of training providers in the UK to receive accreditation from three professional engineering institutes – The Institution of Engineering and Technology, The Institute of Mechanical Engineers, and The Institute of Measurement and Control.