College merger proposals droppedpublished at 13:28 British Summer Time 18 August 2017
Andy Giddings
BBC Local Live
Plans to merge North Shropshire College and Reeseheath College in Nantwich have been shelved after failing to attract government funding.
North Shropshire College has been struggling with its finances and with critical inspection reports. The two institutions have been working together for over a year, to turn things around.
They say they'd been in talks with two government funding agencies for 10 months, but had to conclude "there is not a viable solution".
The two colleges now say they will look for an alternative way forward, rather than a merger, to "ensure that the outcome serves the needs of our students, employers and community as effectively as possible”.
Quote MessageThe conclusion to this process is disappointing to both colleges and the government, but we have explored all possible long-term funding support and unfortunately there is not a viable solution."
Joint statement from North Shropshire College and Reeseheath College