ALTON College has unveiled “exciting” plans to merge with Havant and South Downs College in a bid to secure a strong and more viable future.

The merger proposal comes as a result of a Government review of post-16 education across England, launched in 2015 “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”.

Published in January 2017, the North and Mid-Hampshire Area Review concluded that, 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, a merger between Alton College and Basingstoke College of Technology would “enhance the resilience of both to the impact of increased competition”.

While that particular proposal didn’t work out, 18 months down the line Alton College has selected a new partner in the form of Havant and South Downs College - itself the result of a merger last August between Havant sixth form and South Downs College.

Looking forward to forging a “strong partnership”, Ian Gibson, the chairman of governors at Alton College, said: “We are excited about the vision of enhancing and building on the outstanding academic provision at both institutions through this new partnership opportunity.”

While the finer details are still under discussion, the aim is to secure a merger by April 2019, with a view to providing “wider opportunities for all our learners”.

In clarifying the situation, Alton College has confirmed that while there will be no changes in terms of curriculum and staff provision at Alton, the merger is expected to “provide the opportunity to share resources and best practice and to collaborate on new initiatives with another outstanding college”.

Sara Russell, the principal and chief executive of Alton College, said: “Alton College has a long and rich history as an outstanding tertiary and sixth-form college, serving the needs of Alton and East Hampshire for 40 years, and this partnership represents a new and exciting chapter for the college and the local community.

“The partnership with Havant and South Downs College will maximise the opportunities available to students and will build on the educational character and values of both colleges with a continued joint commitment to excellence.”

In 2017, students and staff at Alton College celebrated another year of outstanding results with a 99.2 per cent pass rate for A-Levels and 100 per cent pass rate for vocational courses.

In a statement, Mike Gaston, the principal of Havant and South Downs College, said: “The vision is to maintain the outstanding provision through this important partnership, not only to reinforce A-Levels but to look at the expansion of higher education and T-Levels (technical qualifications).”

And he added: “The board at Havant and South Downs College is delighted that Alton College has chosen to work in close partnership with us, the aim being to secure a merger by April 2019. This merger has the aim of providing wider opportunities for all our learners.”

Mr Gaston continued: “Havant and South Downs College prides itself on high-quality provision both in academic, professional and technical education. Only last week, Havant and South Downs College was chosen as the only college in the Portsmouth area to deliver T-Levels from 2020.

“Earlier this year, figures from the Department for Education showed Havant and South Downs College to be the top college for academic and vocational excellence in the Portsmouth area.

“We have achieved so much in such a short space of time with the merger between Havant Sixth-Form College and South Downs College, and it is excellent that Alton College has recognised that success.”

Mr Gaston confirmed that while the name brand of Alton College will remain unchanged it will become part of a college group with Havant and South Downs College.

Mike Bateman, board chairman at Havant and South Downs College, said: “We look forward to working with Alton College to create one collective voice to ensure a strong and ambitious future together.”

But in a joint statement it was stressed that “both colleges see the merger as a partnership of equals and both bring considerable strengths and assets to the partnership”.

* Alton College offers a wide variety of academic and vocational courses and is about to add T-Levels to its curriculum. T-levels are a new technical qualification that focuses on vocational study and work-ready skills and will be suited to people more interested in pursuing a career in skilled employment than going to university.

Alton College has secured Government funding to pave the way in developing substantive work placements and for offering a range of T-Level qualifications which, like A-Levels, take two years to complete.

From September, it will be focusing on 45 to 60-day work placements on engineering and child care BTEC courses and is currently developing links with employers.

Mrs Russell said: “Having an extended work placement will provide students with excellent preparation for the world of work and we see this as a really positive addition to the already well established work-experience programme that the college offers.”