Totton College: Consultation on Nacro takeover

A public consultation has begun on plans to hand over a sixth-form college to the crime reduction charity Nacro.

Totton College in Hampshire agreed the deal after a decline in student numbers left it with financial problems.

Residents and students are being asked whether Nacro's plan to establish a "centre of vocational excellence" is preferable to the college's closure.

The consultation will close on 14 August. The transfer is due to be complete by 9 November.

A spokesman said: "When the board of governors met on 18 June, it was faced with a decision to accept joining Nacro or face closure of the college. We voted unanimously in favour of joining with Nacro.

"As a part of this process, we now have a legal obligation to conduct a public consultation about the proposed dissolution of the college. This sets out the rationale for the college joining Nacro."

Five of the college's governors resigned from the board ahead of the meeting on 18 June.

The college, near Southampton, had been seeking a merger with a partner organisation to help tackle its "growing financial challenges". It had previously been in talks with Eastleigh College.

In April, the college told students it was scrapping A-levels to focus on vocational qualifications. It has been helping about 90 students find alternative college places from September.

Nacro has said it is not intending to create a specialist college for ex-offenders.

Its director of education Joshua Coleman said: "There is no intention whatsoever to bring in any offenders or any other catchment of society who doesn't live currently in the Totton environment."

Totton College is currently funded by central government's Education Funding Agency.