Wolverhampton College will sell off horticultural centre
The City of Wolverhampton College today confirmed it will shut its horticultural centre and announced plans to relocate hairdressing and performing arts courses.
Bosses are also considering leaving the Newhampton Centre, which it co-owns with Wolverhampton City Council.
The cuts come days after it was announced consultation had been launched with 95 workers, including some lecturers, about possible job losses in a bid to save £3 million this academic year.
The college will shut its Cedars Horticultural Centre in Compton Road West and sell it off, leading to courses being cut.
It will also close its campus in King Street, meaning hairdressing students will be moved to extended facilities at the Metro One campus.
Performing arts courses at the Newhampton Centre, in Whitmore Reans, are set to move to the Paget Road campus – where a new studio would be created. College principal Mark Robertson, who is two months into his new role, said the changes would bring more students together at the college's main campuses.
However, the moves have been criticised by outgoing student Sarah Nimmo, who completed a one-year diploma in horticulture with a distinction and was hoping to change her career with further study.
The mother of three, a former Royal Mail manager, took voluntary redundancy before starting her course. The 46-year-old, of Parkes Street, Willenhall, said: "I think it's disgusting.
"I had discussions at the college last September about possible career moves, and I feel grossly misled. I'm sure others do too."
Mr Robertson defended the changes, saying: "This means students will be part of the whole. The performing arts courses and hairdressing are 100 per cent protected."
