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<p>The Further Education Commissioner and the Education and Skills Funding Agency
(ESFA) carried out a comprehensive analysis of local provision needs for Newton Rigg
and the surrounding area in 2020. The core objective of this analysis was to establish
if there was a need for college provision within the general vicinity of the Newton
Rigg campus. It considered the location of neighbouring further education (FE) colleges
in relation to travel to learn options and identified that most enrolments could be
accommodated at other statutory FE institutions.</p><p> </p><p>In total, 286 16 to
18 year-old students were enrolled onto land based further education courses at Newton
Rigg, of which 70 were in residential accommodation. Where gaps in provision were
identified, specifically agricultural provision, alternative arrangements for the
next academic year have been agreed with Myerscough College in partnership with Ullswater
Community College to ensure continuity of delivery of this provision in the Penrith
area after Newton Rigg closes.</p><p> </p><p>Both the Further Education Commissioner
and the ESFA continue to have regular meetings with the senior leadership team at
Askham Bryan College, and this includes, but is not exclusively related to, matters
concerning the closure of Newton Rigg Campus.</p><p> </p><p>During the analysis of
local provision needs and subsequently the strategic review, the Further Education
Commissioner, with support from the ESFA, has engaged with a significant number of
stakeholders who had an interest in Newton Rigg, the implications of its proposed
closure and the delivery of FE, including land-based provision within Cumbria. This
included Cumbria County Council, Eden District Council, Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership,
all statutory FE colleges located within Cumbria, Scotland’s Rural College, the University
of Cumbria, University of Central Lancashire, Lancaster University, National Farmers
Union, Friends of Newton Rigg, current and former governors of Askham Bryan College
and a range of industry stakeholders.</p><p> </p><p>The strategic review commenced
in July 2020 and completed in February 2021. This review engaged with local interested
parties and all the educational institutions identified above to ascertain interest
and options available to maintain specialist provision at the Newton Rigg campus.
No suitable alternative solution was identified to maintain education provision at
that site.</p><p> </p><p> </p>
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