Proposed Merger FAQs

Further education is changing rapidly, and colleges have a shared ambition to deliver high quality skills training, respond effectively to employers’ needs and remain financially resilient. Exploring a merger gives Northampton College and Moulton College the opportunity to build a stronger, more resilient organisation that can meet these expectations and better serve students, employers and communities across Northamptonshire.

There is still a significant amount of work to do and it’s hard to give a precise timeframe. Our current target date is January 2027 but this is subject to change. Updates will be given throughout the process.

This is still to be decided. If the merger goes ahead, it is likely that both colleges will keep their well-recognised identities for some time.

Students are at the heart of this proposal and our primary focus is to make sure they continue to receive a high‑quality educational experience. We remain fully committed to supporting every student to achieve their best, both academically and personally, and that commitment will not change. A merged college would be able to offer a rich and varied range of courses that would give more choice to the students of Northamptonshire.

Students will be involved at appropriate stages and we will communicate clearly as the process develops.

Students will continue to study at their usual campus for the foreseeable future but over time they will benefit from better progression opportunities and wider access to facilities across all campuses.

No. Nothing is changing right now about how people apply. Prospective students should continue to apply for the course and the college they want to study at. If someone was planning to apply to both colleges anyway, they can still do that - there are no restrictions.

We understand that some staff may be worried about job security. Please be assured that our priority throughout this process is our staff.

At this stage, no decisions have been made. Should the proposal move forward, we will communicate transparently and fully at all stages of the merger process.

For many people, a larger and more stable organisation could create new opportunities - whether through promotion or enhanced professional development that may not have been possible within smaller, separate institutions.

Yes. It’s important that we hear from the people who study, work in and support the college.

As part of the due diligence process, a formal consultation will take place. Once this is complete, if both governing bodies agree in principle to proceed, the consultation will formally begin. This process is designed to gather views from staff, students, union representatives and the wider community. Consultation may include Q&A sessions, open meetings, dedicated events and online ways to share feedback.

It’s a complex process which involves looking very carefully at legal, financial, academic and cultural factors as well as listening to staff, students and the wider community. After carrying out checks and getting the necessary approvals, the governors of both colleges will decide whether a merger is the right choice for their students and community. The Department for Education must also approve any merger to make sure it meets national policy requirements.

No. It will be business as usual and our partnerships will only get stronger. Both colleges already have excellent relationships with businesses, educational establishments, civic and other partners. By coming together, we can align our work, share good practice and streamline systems and processes. This will help us provide an even better service to employers and support the skills needs of our local and regional economy.

Our aim is to secure a stable future for our students, staff and community. By bringing the colleges together, we can create a more resilient organisation with better economies of scale. A larger college with a broader range of courses will help us attract more students, which in turn will increase funding and strengthen our long-term position. It is anticipated the new organisation would have a combined turnover of over £70 million.

We’ll continue to provide regular updates and this FAQ section on the website will be kept fully up to date. We’re committed to being open and transparent throughout this process and whenever there is news to share, it will be communicated appropriately. If you have questions, please submit them here: https://forms.office.com/e/0zZ...

If it is decided that the proposed merger will not go ahead after due diligence, both institutions will continue to run independently and to work together closely for the benefit of their students.

It is too early to discuss matters related to staffing since these decisions would be worked through after the merger has taken place.

The sites both colleges currently occupy would remain, with no campuses being lost under the plans.

Students who apply to study at Moulton or Northampton College would remain at their chosen college for the foreseeable future.

If the merger goes ahead, there may be future opportunities for staff to work more collaboratively across campuses.

Any changes would be considered carefully and focused on improving collaboration and the experience for students.

If the merger goes ahead, there would be scope to collaborate more closely and to develop new courses which could create wider opportunities over time.

We can’t make any guarantees about redundancies at this stage, but our intention would be to grow student numbers, and we would need the staff to support and teach those students. Any changes would be considered carefully, and we would communicate openly and transparently as plans develop.

At this stage, there is no confirmed timescale for consultation or a decision on the merger. A number of steps still need to take place and we will share further information as soon as decisions are made and the position becomes clearer.

Both colleges are currently working towards a merger date of 1st January 2027 if their Corporations approve the merger.

Both colleges will continue to operate on a business-as-usual approach including the development and investment in staff skills and facilities.

The merger is about ensuring the financial viability of both colleges into the future. Any costs relating to the merger would be considered during the consultation and due-diligence process.

The merger is about protecting and expanding choice for young people in Northamptonshire. By coming together, we could offer a richer range of courses, clearer progression routes and shared facilities, so more students benefit from what we have. Students remain at the heart of every decision, and we would continue to be a local college, while investing in modern facilities, the latest technology and state‑of‑the‑art curriculum areas.

Where higher education courses are validated by the University of Northampton this will not change as a result of the proposed merger. Both colleges will continue to work closely with the University as part of the ongoing Future Skills agreement.

If the merger goes ahead, the intention would be to strengthen the post-16 offer for schools, families and communities across Northamptonshire. By working more closely together, the Colleges would be better placed to offer clearer progression routes for young people from school through to further study, university, apprenticeships and employment.

A combined approach would support closer collaboration with schools, employers and community partners, helping to align provision more effectively with local skills needs and opportunities.

The intention would be to maintain and grow student numbers while continuing to improve quality, outcomes and the overall student experience across both colleges.

Both Moulton College and Northampton College have distinct strengths, specialist provision and strong reputations – any future approach would be focused on building these, not diluting them.

Courses at both colleges will continue to run as usual. There will be no change for students qualifying this summer.

Most subjects delivered at the two colleges are only available at one college. Where subjects are currently offered at both colleges there may be case for centralising teaching in one location however this is something that would be carefully considered at a much later stage in the process.

This is a proposed merger of two successful colleges and not a takeover situation. We are confident that both colleges will be able to bring examples of best practice in teaching, systems and student experience and all these aspects will be considered as part of the process.

If you’ve applied to study at one of the colleges, you would continue to study at that location for the 2026/27 academic year, and your course would run as planned, subject to the normal viability checks that apply every year.

Students who have a place at college would continue on their course of study subject to each college's usual behaviour and intervention policies.

There will be no immediate changes to courses, campuses or facilities as a result of the proposed merger. Students will continue to study their chosen course at their usual campus for the foreseeable future.

At this stage, no decisions have been made about changes to specific courses or facilities. If the proposal progresses, any future developments would be carefully planned, communicated clearly in advance and focused on improving choice, progression opportunities and access to high‑quality facilities.

There is no intention to remove existing systems at either college in the short term. In the event of a merger, a full review of all systems would occur however any changes would be fully considered and always aiming to enhance student experience.

There will be no changes to bus services or transport arrangements at this time. If the proposal progresses, any future changes would be carefully considered and communicated clearly in advance.

The proposed merger is focused on enhancing the student experience by bringing together the strengths, expertise and resources of both colleges.

If the merger goes ahead, students would benefit from a wider range of courses and progression routes, helping them move more easily between levels, subjects and into higher education, apprenticeships or employment.