Background
In 2016 on merger of WCG and Evesham and Malvern Hills College, WCG CEO Angela Joyce said: “Through this merger we can expand provision in the south of Worcestershire for your people and employers.” (Evesham Observer, 17 July 2016).
Fast forward to 2021 and WCG are closing and selling off Malvern Hills College, as well as the majority of Evesham site, forcing a reduction to adult and further education provision in Evesham and elimination of provision in Malvern.
Warwickshire College Group announced in November 2020 that substantial parts of Evesham College site will be sold and the remainder “repurposed”. No further information or consultation has been forthcoming. No equality impact assessments on the effects on students, staff, or the community and local businesses have been released.
In recent press announcements, WCG management claim they are ‘investing’ in their Worcestershire campuses, while closing sites and packing provision off to Pershore! These proposals come at a time when the Government has announced £375 million investment in skills post-Covid-19. Local people who have lost their jobs because of the pandemic will need retraining and will not be able to afford to travel distances to access it! Wychavon features high on the National Deprivation Index and ranks 322 out of 324 on an index of social mobility alone – the third worst in England. This is clearly a place that needs a local education provider – not to lose one!
From Autumn 2021:
- Hair and Beauty, Engineering, Construction Motor Vehicle and Digital Courses will run from a greatly reduced Evesham campus
- Malvern Hills College will close
- Access to HE and Supported Learning be transferred to the Pershore site (7 miles away)
- Early Years courses will no longer be offered in Worcestershire campuses.
WCG management are closing campuses and shutting down local provision, while claiming they are investing in Worcestershire!
In the last decade, the access to local education in rural communities and small towns – built up over generations – has been limited and reduced thanks to FE mergers and subsequent site closures. Evesham and Malvern need local further education expanded, not reduced.
Protests
Mid Worcestershire Labour were proud to support the protests, made up of students and community members, that took place during lunchtimes on the 26th and 28th May outside of Evesham College.
There was an excellent turnout for both fo these protests to protect local college provision and local news coverage of these can be viewed here.
Support
You can lend your support to this cause by adding your signature to the petition that can be found here.
You can also follow the Facebook page for regular updates and to hear about any future protests that have been organised. The Facebook page can be found here.