Colleges propose partnership to provide future land-based education provisions in Cumbria

Myerscough and Ullswater Community Colleges could join forces to deliver agricultural and animal management programmes to students affected by the upcoming closure of Newton Rigg College, Penrith. It comes after the Further Education Commissioner-led Newton Rigg Strategic Review Steering Group concluded it was unable to identify an organisation to continue delivering sustainable land-based education at the campus, recommending Askham Bryan College, which has owned the site since 2011, should continue its search to find a buyer for the site.Initial discussions have been held to see whether some aspects of Ullswater Community College's school provision could be extended to provide agricultural and animal management programmes as part of their sixth form provision, in partnership with Myerscough. It is hoped extending this offer into the sixth form could offer an 'essential life-line' for land-based education to continue within the local community while further exploration takes place on 'securing the Newton Rigg sites for the future'.Alison Robinson, chief executive and principal of Myerscough College, said: "Myerscough College wants to see land-based education flourish in Cumbria, and we have come into the process having been invited after a local Cumbrian solution was not possible within the timeframe."We are delighted to be working with Ullswater Community College and we believe that this continuity of provision will provide clarity for new students and a number of students progressing with their studies and will be a platform for the continuation of land-based education within Penrith, which is so critical for both young people and employers in the Cumbrian community." Stephen Gilby, headteacher of Ullswater Community College, said they were very happy to be working with Myerscough College, MP Dr Neil Hudson, and local stakeholders on this 'innovative solution', and added the partnership could be built upon to sustain land-based education in Penrith, Eden and Cumbria 'long into the future'. Dr Neil Hudson, MP for Penrith and The Border, said: "It is vital that we maintain continuity of educational provision for our young people here in Penrith and I am really pleased that Myerscough College and Ullswater Community College have agreed to come together and work with local stakeholders to secure local educational provision in Cumbria. "This offers a lifeline for the community while we all work together to secure the farms and campus for a new longer-term Newton Rigg College entity." It is understood the colleges will work with MP Dr Neil Hudson and key partners in Cumbria and the Borderlands region to determine the best way forward to support the ongoing delivery of land-based education in the county.

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Colleges propose partnership to provide future land-based education provisions in Cumbria

Myerscough and Ullswater Community Colleges could join forces to deliver agricultural and animal management programmes to students affected by the upcoming closure of Newton Rigg College, Penrith.

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Colleges propose partnership to provide future land-based education provisions in Cumbria

Myerscough and Ullswater Community Colleges could join forces to deliver agricultural and animal management programmes to students affected by the upcoming closure of Newton Rigg College, Penrith.

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