The Joint Education Administrators are pleased to report that they have concluded a contract with North Kent College for the transfer of the remaining provision and education-related assets of both Hadlow College and West Kent and Ashford College.
Following extensive due diligence, the Governing Body of North Kent College has formally agreed to the transfer of Hadlow College, including Princess Christian Farm and the equestrian centre in Greenwich, and the Tonbridge campus of West Kent and Ashford College. The transfer takes effect from 15 August 2020 and includes all students and the education-related facilities of the two colleges.
The contract accords with the recommendation of the Further Education Commissioner and has been subject to extensive two-way due diligence, transitional and implementation planning.
This concludes the Joint Education Administrators’ implementation of the Further Education Commissioner’s recommendations. All students of both Hadlow College and West Kent and Ashford College have now either completed their studies or been transferred to another education provider.
Commenting on this, David Gleed, Chief Executive and Executive Principal of North Kent College, said:
“We are delighted to welcome the staff and students from Hadlow and West Kent Colleges into a larger college. As we move into this exciting new chapter it brings with it a wealth of opportunities. We’ve secured course provision for all current and new learners and this is the outcome we have worked exceptionally hard to achieve.
“The union will strengthen the breadth of our curriculum offer and our training provision across Kent and equip students with the skills and knowledge to prepare them for successful careers and further studies.
“We will continue to serve all local communities and build working relationships across the County, striving to ensure a strong and consistently reliable offer.
“We are looking forward to the future, the evolution of our extended portfolio and developing our robust and diverse vocational offer further.”
Graham Morley, Interim Principal of Hadlow College and West Kent and Ashford College, added:
“This transfer of Hadlow College, including its equestrian centre in Greenwich, and the Tonbridge site of West Kent and Ashford College to North Kent College, has successfully secured their future as valuable community assets.
“It has preserved both colleges’ long-standing heritage, ensured that specialist land-based education remains within the Garden of England and positively concluded a process that started in February 2019 with the FE Commissioner’s intervention and subsequent publication of his report.
“On a personal note, this transfer also brings to a close my involvement with both colleges. It is therefore with sadness that I say goodbye to all the valued colleagues I’ve worked with these last 18 months. The professionalism, dedication and commitment to the learner shown by each of them, despite the many challenges we have faced, has been an inspiration. I wish them every success for the future as they start their new journey with North Kent College.”
More information on what this transition means for current and prospective students is available on our Frequently Asked Questions page.