THE Guildford College Group has selected Activate Learning as its merger partner in a move that will initiate a new phase of development and secure the future of the Surrey-based colleges, one of which is Farnham Sixth Form College.

The three colleges under the Guildford College Group umbrella are Guildford College, Merrist Wood and Farnham Sixth Form College.

They will join with Activate Learning’s existing colleges, Reading College, City of Oxford College and Banbury and Bicester College, along with Bracknell & Wokingham College which is due to join Activate Learning this August.

Both Activate Learning and Bracknell & Wokingham College have been awarded ‘good’ ratings from Ofsted this year.

John Denning, chairman of governors at the Guildford College Group, said: “This new partnership is very good news for the Guildford College Group. It’s all about securing the future while protecting the heritage of our long-established colleges.

“This new venture will secure a great future for the group and is an opportunity for a new lease of life that will benefit our learners, staff, local communities and employers we serve.”

Activate Learning has an extensive, positive experience of bringing colleges together, including major mergers in 2003 and 2010, a history of successfully creating and taking on schools and training businesses.

Chris Jones, chairman of governors at Activate Learning, said: “This is great news for our learners, staff, businesses and local communities in Surrey, Berkshire and Oxfordshire.

“Working together we will give our learners a wider range of career pathways, give local businesses greater access to talent, provide greater opportunities for our staff and build a group of colleges that are stronger together and even greater assets to our communities.”

The merge follows an intervention visit to the college group by Further Education (FE) Commissioner Richard Atkins, and a letter from the Secretary of State, Justine Greening, accepting the recommendations.

Jacki Hughes, principal of the Guildford College Group, said: “The new group will create growth opportunities through a clear strategic direction with the ability to win new contracts and secure new business; have more influence in shaping the learning and skills agenda both regionally and nationally and achieve stability for both organisations, and all this will ensure we better meet the needs of our learners.”

Sally Dicketts, chief executive of Activate Learning, said: “This exciting new venture will be stronger and more sustainable, providing benefits to learners, staff, businesses and the community through its greater scale and negotiating power, sharing of expertise and resources, greater combined expertise around teaching, learning and assessment and combined group services.”