We received a petition asking:
“We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to intervene to keep Park College Eastbourne as a distinct Sixth Form college.”
Details of Petition:
“Park College, Eastbourne is an established, successful VI form college. Since 2003, the college has been part of Sussex Downs FE College, while currently maintaining its own identity and ethos. Recent events undermine the prospects for continuing success. Recently published plans to “reconfigure” A-level and other courses across the SDC sites will damage Park’s identity. The removal of a highly respected Head of College (mid-week !) has damaged morale of staff and students. Moving staff away from recognised teachers’ contracts and advertising vacancies on an hourly-paid, variable hours basis mean that, over time, the college will not be able to compete for, or retain the best teaching staff. The dismantling of Park as a VI form college would remove any choice for local students at post-16. It is clear that many parents, students and other citizens of Eastbourne wish to keep Park as a centre of sixth form excellence: we urge the Prime Minister to intervene to ensure this.”
· Read the petition
· Petitions homepage
Read the Government’s response
Further education colleges are key to ensuring that every local community has a resource at its heart, charged with delivering high quality opportunities to learners and employers.
Further education colleges are independent bodies. As a result it is the college governing body, in this case Sussex Downs College, which is responsible for matters relating to the current and future direction of the institution. This includes responsibility for making decisions about the operation of the college’s sites, such as Park College Eastbourne and all matters relating to the employment of staff including pay, terms and conditions. Such autonomy is important if we are to have a strong further education sector. It would therefore be inappropriate for Ministers to intervene.
We would however, expect a college to ensure opportunities for high-quality learning are maintained and the particular needs of all students continue to be addressed.
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