South Staffordshire College to close its Cannock campus four years after £6m refurb
South Staffordshire College is to close its Cannock campus, it has been revealed.
The college has made the decision to close its campus at The Green in July, just four years after it completed a £6 million refurbishment of the site. The college's Progress Centre on Walsall Road will also close.
The decision is financially motivated and has come about after a proposed merger with Walsall College fell through.
A spokesman for the college said: "The decision had to be taken as a result of the financial pressures facing further education resulting in the need to consolidate resources into more specialist, sustainable areas. Learners in the district are also keen to study in other locations operated by the college."
Staff have been told of the closure but the college refused to say how many jobs would be affected. The courses offered at Cannock, including hairdressing and music, will be relocated to the college's other campuses in Penkridge, Lichfield and Tamworth. Students based in Cannock Chase enrolled on these courses will be offered free travel to the other campuses.
The move has been branded a 'betrayal' by a senior politician and has left Cannock without a further education establishment in the town for the first time since the 1930s.
Councillor George Adamson, the leader of Cannock Chase District Council, added: "They spent millions on refurbishing the site just a few years ago and now they are just letting that go to waste.
"It is a double betrayal as the Cannock Chase District has the lowest education achievement levels in Staffordshire and now with the site being closed it will be more difficult for local people to get qualifications."
It is understood Cannock Chase District Council was told of the plans several weeks ago but failed to change the college's mind.
The college, which has around 20,000 students on its books, has been battling financial difficulties in recent years. In 2015 it had to make £2m worth of cuts, with jobs being slashed in the years before that. The department for education had suggested South Staffordshire merge with Walsall College because of the latter's 'financial strength' but this was ruled out by both colleges.
Graham Morley, the chief executive of the college, said:“South Staffordshire College needs to reduce its operating costs to ensure its continuing sustainability and long-term future as the provider of further education to the community it serves.
“The board made the tough decision to relocate services and provision from Cannock campus in response to the financial pressures in further education and the need to consolidate into more specialist and sustainable campuses.”
The college describes its Cannock campus as having 'some of the most forward thinking technology in education today', boasting a Mac suite, collaboration lab, music technology suite, beauty salons and 4D immersive zones.
