Bromley Council has asked interested parties to engage in a public consultation on the proposed merger between Orpington College, located in the constituency I represent in Parliament, and Bromley College. I strongly support the merger being proposed by the governing bodies of the two colleges and on behalf of my constituents, many of whom will be affected by the outcome of the consultation, I would like to make the following points:

·         The merger will direct funds more effectively to front-line teaching services, by combining administrative overheads and management posts.  Major efficiency gains are particularly essential at a time of great pressure on public expenditure.  Savings can also be met through shared assets such as premises, teaching material and online facilities.  There will of course be one-off costs, but they are expected to be dwarfed by potential savings.  Streamlined management will also allow the College to be more flexible and responsive to the needs of its students.

·         The merger will lead to a higher quality of teaching by maximising resources, and by removing duplication of subjects between the two colleges.  Bromley and Orpington Colleges currently operate in a fiercely competitive market that has resulted in financial pressures and a fluctuation in student numbers.  Eliminating duplicated subjects will free up resources to fill current gaps in student provision with new subjects, and enable to the College to respond more effectively to student and teacher demands.

·         The merger will serve to enhance community cohesion and create a hub of further and higher education in Bromley.  The two colleges are only four miles apart and both located within the same London borough, and this has created difficulties both for employer organisations and for the University of Greenwich, to which the two institutions are affiliated.  The merger will further enhance and develop the Bromley College brand.  The proposal makes clear that the recently upgraded Orpington and Bromley College main sites will be retained and used more intensively by local learners and businesses.

There is wide support for the proposed merger. Bromley has a thriving education and training market, with 17 state school sixth forms and residents also having ready access to a wide range of other schools, Academies and Further Education Colleges in neighbouring Boroughs. The merged college would have a combined turnover of some £32 million, retaining its local identity and remaining significantly smaller than the "super colleges"  established in some parts of the country with budgets of more than four or five times that size.  I am proud that the new merged college will be based in and around my constituency, and I believe that this will put them on the path to achieving OfSTED Outstanding status.