COLLEGE bosses have defended the controversial decision to close Stourbridge College and transfer students and staff to Dudley and Halesowen colleges as plans for a public protest gather pace.
BMet principal and CEO Cliff Hall, Dudley College of Technology CEO Lowell Williams and Halesowen College principal David Williams have spoken candidly about the closure and what will happen to those affected after angry students, parents, staff and community members turned out in force to a public meeting held at Stourbridge Town Hall last Wednesday (May 22).
None of the college bosses were in attendance at the meeting, organised by trade unions and former Dudley Council leader - Councillor Pete Lowe, but they have now replied in detail to a series of questions put to them by the News.
Here are their responses in full:
Cliff Hall - principal and CEO at BMet
What can you say to reassure the community about the changes to education provision following last week's meeting at Stourbridge Town Hall?
“I can understand and empathise with the public reaction to the closure of the Hagley Road site and I am saddened by the impact that it is clearly having on my staff and our students and the local community.
“Disappointingly, falling learner numbers combined with a lack of funding meant we were unable to sustain this provision, in its existing locations.
“However by working closely with Dudley College of Technology and Halesowen College we have ensured that every learner across the Black Country has continued access to good quality education and we so far we have protected 95 per cent of jobs. We are also working closely with Dudley MBC to look after our most vulnerable learners.
“We have also done an impact to travel assessment for every current student and in the majority of cases they will not have further to travel and in many cases they will actually have a bit less to travel. Both colleges are meeting the cost of travel.
“The Hagley Road campus will close during August and all the courses taught there will move over to Dudley borough based colleges from September.
“The Art and Design Centre in Brierley Hill and the Skills Shop in Merry Hill will also continue under the leadership of Dudley College of Technology and all of the associated learning resources will remain in the borough.
“Every student with us has a confirmed place of study next year and we will continue teaching right up until the end of the summer term.”
Why didn't you attend the meeting?
“Initially, I was keen to attend the meeting but on reflection I did not think the format, as I understood it, would have allowed for a complicated and informed discussion to take place or to consider any solutions for parents/students with concerns.
“Since we announced the decision, we have actively engaged with staff and students on the decision made and I have been impressed with the professionalism and positivity from the majority of staff and students – in what are difficult circumstances.
“As part of our commitment to be engaging and transparent, we held an event at Stourbridge College at the beginning of May where students and their parents had the opportunity to ask any questions and to find out more about the colleges it is proposed they transfer to. The event on Saturday May 11 was attended by over 300 students and their parents.
“At the event we were able to have really detailed and informed discussions about the changes.
“We are continuing to ensure that there are ongoing conversations on this.
“We are also in talks with the unions and we are pleased that we have been able to protect the majority of their members’ jobs.
“I am responding to emails sent to me on this and will meet with parents with concerns about their child’s future so that I can do my best to allay those concerns and ensure measures are put in place for the most vulnerable learners. I will of course also continue speaking with the unions."
How many students and staff are based at Stourbridge College? How many staff have been issued with redundancy notices?
"There are approximately 900 full-time students at Stourbridge College. We are working closely with students to ensure they are aware of the college they will be transferring to. All students will be joined by their teachers.
"There are approximately 185 staff based at Stourbridge College. The majority of staff based at the college have retained employment and have been advised that they will transfer to either Dudley College of Technology or Halesowen College. A total of 145 staff are transferring, 98 are transferring to Dudley College of Technology and 47 are transferring to Halesowen College.
"The majority of the remainder of staff carry out roles which are BMet wide functions and will therefore be relocated to other BMet sites.
"We are also seeking suitable roles for anyone else not currently in an organisational-wide role. We have not issued any redundancy notices in relation to this.
What is BMet’s present level of debt? Fears have been circulating that it could be as high as £80m
"The level of debt is not anywhere near the region of £80m. The college has a level of debt of £16.4m."
Has the Stourbridge College site been put on the market?
"The Hagley Road site has not yet been valued and is not on the market."
Are discussions taking place with Old Swinford Hospital school about purchasing the site?
"We have met with Old Swinford Hospital School to discuss their potential interest."
Lowell Williams - chief executive officer at Dudley College of Technology
What will happen to staff and students at Stourbridge College?
"Following BMet’s decision to withdraw from its operations in Dudley borough, the plan put forward in response by Dudley College of Technology and Halesowen College protects all learning places for young people and adults participating in BMet’s provision in Dudley, next academic year and into the future.
"Broadly it is anticipated that 779 young people will transfer to Dudley and 530 to Halesowen. 737 adults will transfer to Dudley College of Technology along with some 186 apprentices.
"The joint college response also protects 95 per cent of staff currently employed by BMet in Stourbridge. In total 98 staff will transfer to Dudley College of Technology and 47 to Halesowen College. Currently 10 staff remain at risk of redundancy, but both colleges are working hard with BMet to either identify opportunities for their redeployment in BMet or for them to take up vacancies as they arise in either Dudley or Halesowen College."
Why didn't you attend the meeting at Stourbridge Town Hall last week and how will you be engaging with those affected?
"I was not invited to the meeting at Stourbridge Town Hall. The principal of BMet, Cliff Hall, was invited. I did try to contact Councillor Lowe on the day before the meeting on his two mobile numbers and left messages asking him to contact me, which unfortunately he was unable to do. I understand that Cliff Hall’s initial intention was to join the meeting and I would have been willing to accompany him, but there was not time to agree a suitable format for the meeting to support an informed discussion.
"Both Dudley College of Technology and Halesowen College have been closely engaged with BMet’s staff and students from the moment BMet reached the decision to withdrawn their provision in Dudley borough. We have met all transferring staff, either in groups or on a one to one basis, many on more than one occasion. We have been impressed with their professionalism and positivity.
"All three colleges participated in a Futures Fair for current and prospective learners and their parents, which took place on Saturday May 11. During the event we met many learners and their parents who were, in the main, very grateful that the two colleges had provided a secure future for learning and were enthusiastic about the coming academic year. There are numerous on-going advice and guidance events planned at both Halesowen and Dudley College of Technology along with dedicated helplines for any learner with an unanswered question.
"Neither Dudley College of Technology nor Halesowen College have any decision making power in respect of the withdrawal of BMet’s provision from Dudley borough. Nor is either college in a position to discuss BMet’s wider financial position. We have therefore not participated in these discussions. A joint meeting of the three colleges with trade union representatives is planned for the near future.
"Dudley College of Technology would be pleased to participate in any other discussions, private or public, planned in respect of the future of further education provision in the borough."
Trade unions are staging a protest to urge BMet, Dudley College, Halesowen College and the FE Commissioner to change the plan to close the Hagley Road campus and save Stourbridge College. Is there any chance of Dudley College taking on the campus so Stourbridge and its young people do not lose the only FE college in the town offering vocational courses?
"The financial challenges faced by BMet are regrettable. Unfortunately, many further education colleges are facing similar challenges. Last week saw the first ever notification of the insolvency of a further education, at Hadlow College in Kent.
"Dudley College of Technology and Halesowen College were invited by the FE Commissioner to respond to the challenges faced by BMet. Our response has protected provision for all learners, employment for virtually all staff and has safeguarded the best of BMet’s learning facilities in Dudley borough. In effect, we have done everything we can to help save Stourbridge College.
"Sadly, on-going operations at the Hagley Road site are not viable for the future. Young people and adults will have access to excellent learning facilities in Brierley Hill, Halesowen and Dudley. Every young person will be provided with free travel. Halesowen and Dudley College of Technology have committed to working with the West Midlands Combined Authority and DMBC to open an adult learning centre in Stourbridge town in the near future. Currently the bulk of BMet’s adult provision is delivered in Brierley Hill."
Did Dudley College buy the ATC centre at The Waterfront from BMet?
"Dudley College of Technology did not buy the ATC Centre from BMet. The college leased the former ATC building from intu on March 17 2017 after BMet had withdrawn from the premises. With the support of the Black Country LEP we have invested £1.2m in refurbishing the building which was re-opened on November 6 2017 as the Construction Apprenticeship Training (CAT) Centre.
"Dudley College of Technology’s building trades learners relocated to the CAT Centre from the college’s former site in Mons Hill, Dudley, at this time. On January 3 2019 the college took out a lease on the adjacent unit 4 which now operates as part of the CAT Centre.
"The CAT Centre provides some of the very best facilities and resources in building trades in the region. BMet’s students studying building trades at Hagley Road will be relocating back to the historic venue of Stourbridge College’s building trades provision. In addition to the CAT Centre, Dudley College of Technology delivers sector leading programmes in modern construction methodologies from Advance II in the Dudley Learning Quarter. Learners attend this provision from across the UK, many on a residential block-release basis. We anticipate a number of BMet’s learners will progress to provision in Advance II."
How many students does Dudley College currently have?
"In this academic year Dudley College of Technology has supported: 4,083 learners aged 16-18 years; 2,908 adult learners; 1,362 apprentices aged 16-18 years; 2,553 adult apprentices; and 287 adults studying higher level programme. With our learners from overseas we support some 12,000 learners each year."
David Williams - principal of Halesowen College
Can you provide any reassurance for Halesowen residents concerned about the possibility of even more coaches turning up to the college in the mornings and afternoons?
"Halesowen College is looking forward to welcoming learners from Stourbridge College and has worked alongside BMet and Dudley College to provide seamless high quality education for all students.
"We appreciate that this is an unsettling time for existing students, staff and new applicants.
"As such, we are arranging open events and welcome evenings to ensure a smooth transition for existing learners and to provide new students with information, advice and guidance about post 16 options.
"Whilst the closure of the Hagley Road site will result in additional learners being based in Halesowen, we do not envisage a significant increase in the volume of coaches.
"The majority of new students live close to existing routes and we would expect them to take advantage of the service.
"We will be discussing any impact of the Stourbridge College closure with local residents at the next Whittingham Road Action Group meeting and have already had productive conversations with local community leaders including Councillor Simon Phipps, the representative for Belle Vale."
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