The future of K College is important not just for Folkestone, but for
the many students from across our district who benefit from the higher
and further education courses they run. Colleges like these offer
choice to students and often the chance to specialise in a subject
area which is not otherwise provided by a local school. That is why it
is so important that these courses and facilities remain open for
local students, and work is being done now to find the best way to do
this.
Last Thursday, I met with Matthew Hancock MP, who is the Minister
taking the lead for the Government on resolving the current problems
at K College. I was also joined at this meeting by the Dover and
Ashford MPs, Charlie Elphicke and Damian Green, and Paul Carter the
Leader of Kent County Council. The first thing we can be absolutely
clear on is that there is no question of support for K College being
suddenly withdrawn. The Government will continue to fund the provision
of courses delivered by K College whilst consideration is given to
what the best future for the college may be. The Government is also
sending in a team to oversee the management of K College and to work
with them to find the best way forward. This means considering how we
can resolve the financial difficulties that the College has gotten
into, and create a sustainable plan for the future. Alongside this
process the Government team will also be open to considering proposals
from any other colleges or new providers who may have a better plan
for delivering higher and further education courses in Folkestone.
Shepway District Council have also been actively involved in this
process and want to work with K College and any alternative providers
who have proposals for how we can best deliver these courses in the
future.
The Skills Funding Agency, who I have had a separate meeting with, are
also now conducting a study into the local need for these college
courses and this work will be completed by February. This research is
very important because it underlines that any decision that is taken
about the future of K College will be one that is based on the needs
of the students, and not just what best suits the management of the
College. The Government team are working to be in a position by
February when they can start to agree the best future for K College,
based on the assessment of the local need for the courses it provides
and the best model for delivering them. The plan is then that any
changes that need to be made will be in place for the start of the
next school year in September 2013. However, if this work takes longer
the Government will continue to fund the existing College until the
future plans can be put in place.
Last Friday I called into a new business that had just started trading
that day in Sandgate High Street. This new café called Loaf, is next
door to the Hub cycle shop and has been opened by Sandgate residents
Kate and Grant Ahlers. I would like to wish them every success for the
future