The Warwickshire College Group (WCG) has announced a consultation on the future of Evesham New College, in neighbouring Worcestershire. The plans being discussed would see the classes move from Evesham to the Pershore College campus. Evesham has experienced a shocking 60% decrease in student enrollment. Today, just under 190 students attend the facility.
WCG manages more than 10,000 students in Evesham, Pershore – and its four campuses in Warwickshire. In response to the challenge of falling enrolments and a desire to make the education experience more valuable and fulfilling, they are holding a consultation process. Some of those provisions have already been moved to Pershore College as part of this push. The consultation is available to anyone who lives in either Evesham or Pershore and will be live until May 30th.
If the proposal goes through, Evesham New College will close. At the same time, Pershore College will be renamed as Pershore and Evesham College. The newly-updated institution will eventually serve close to 500 students. To ease that transition, we plan to begin the instructional day later. This amendment would provide a much-needed benefit to students forced to relocate to a new campus.
“This has created a suboptimal learning environment for our students, and we believe that full consolidation to Pershore College will provide a far more positive and enriching experience,” – WCG.
Even with these improvements promised, Evesham New College staff have raised fears about how the move could affect their jobs. Most have served the institution for decades and longer and are understandably nervous about such changes.
“Obviously staff are upset, because many have worked for Evesham College for many years,” – Ms Watkins.
Sara-Jane Watkins, chief exec of WCG, drove home the key point. She said the decision came down to reality of operating two colleges that are located just miles apart.
“It’s really just about the viability of having two colleges close to each other,” – CEO Sara-Jane Watkins.
WCG is looking out for students through this process. We will provide a free shuttle bus from Evesham New College to our Pershore campus each day. Plus, a new shuttle service from Pershore train station will be launched.
“We will be providing a free shuttle bus from the current Evesham New College to Pershore campus daily, whilst also adding in a shuttle service from Pershore train station,” – Ms Watkins.
