Northampton College and Moulton College are exploring a proposed merger to create a stronger, more resilient college that can better serve students, employers and communities across Northamptonshire.

At the heart of this proposal is a shared belief that we are stronger together, enabling us to provide a transformational post-16 offer for our county and local communities.

The proposal to explore the benefits of a merger has already been approved by the Boards of Governors at both colleges.

What the merger could mean

If progressed, the merger would bring a number of benefits for students, staff and the wider community, including:

• A wider range of courses and progression routes, supported by high‑quality specialist facilities. Students would have access to opportunities that neither organisation could deliver alone.

• An enhanced post-16 and adult offer (including apprenticeships) for the communities of Northamptonshire.

• Stronger position to equip students with the skills employers actually need.

• More opportunities for staff collaboration and professional development, helping teams share expertise, innovate and strengthen teaching and learning.

• Greater capacity and resources, enabling us to play a leading role in shaping the local skills agenda and supporting the county’s economic growth.

• A more resilient organisation, better able to respond to changes in policy, funding and the needs of local communities.

Jason Lancaster, Principal and CEO of Northampton College, said:

“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 us the opportunity to build an organisation that can meet these expectations and better serve our students and communities.”

Oliver Symons, Principal and CEO of Moulton College, added:

“This is an exciting opportunity to bring together the strengths and expertise of both colleges. Our goal is to offer students more choice, clearer progression routes and improved access to specialist facilities. Employers will also benefit from a single, stronger partner that is responsive to local skills needs.”

At this stage, no decision has been taken. If approved, the merged college would serve more than 12,000 students, employ approximately 1,100 staff and have a combined turnover of over £70 million.

Next steps

Over the coming months, both colleges will undertake detailed due diligence work. This will help us understand the full implications of the proposal. This will include opportunities for you to ask questions and share your opinions on the potential merger.

A final decision will be made by the Corporations of both colleges once this work is complete and all considerations have been carefully evaluated. There is still a long way to go but we are aiming towards January 2027 for completion.

There will be no immediate changes at either college following this announcement. We understand that students, staff and stakeholders may have questions. Updates will be shared openly and in a timely manner, supported by a comprehensive online FAQ hub.

If you have a question, please use the form below.

https://forms.office.com/e/tjEeqY4nBM

Background

Northampton College

Northampton College is one of the top-performing further education colleges in the country, with around 8,000 students and a turnover of more than £40 million. The college has strong provision in areas such as health and social care, engineering, creative industries, construction, catering and digital. Student achievement and progression into work or further study are consistently high.

Significant recent investment includes the Advanced Construction Engineering Centre, the Digital Academy, the Green Skills Centre and the immersive learning classroom (iLab), all aligned with regional skills priorities.

Moulton College

Moulton College is a specialist land-based and technical college with more than 100 years of experience delivering vocational education from entry to degree level. Based on a 1,100‑acre campus, the College offers technical, industry‑focused training in land-based industries such as agriculture, animal management and equine alongside  construction, business, food and sport. It has strong employer partnerships, on‑site accommodation and commercial enterprises; a working farm, equine and sports facilities. 

Collaboration to date

The relationship between the two colleges has strengthened in recent years through shared professional development, joint student competitions, collaborative projects and work together through the Futureskills partnership with the University of Northampton. Both colleges are recognised as Good by Ofsted and share a long-standing commitment to delivering high‑quality education across the county.

FAQs

• Why are the Colleges exploring a merger?

  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.

• If approved, when will the merger go-ahead?

  There is still a significant amount of work to do  and it’shard 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.

• If the merger goes ahead, what will the merged college be called?

  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.

• How would a merger impact students?

  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.

• Will the merger affect college applications?

  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.

• How would a merger impact staff?

  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.

• Will students, staff, parents and employers be consulted?

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

  As part of the duediligence 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.

• Who is involved in the discussions and decision‑making process?

  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, thegovernors 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.

• Will employer partnerships be affected?

  No. It will be business as usualand 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 practiceand 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.

• Will a merger make the Colleges more financially secure?

  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.

• How will  future developments be communicated?

  We’ll continue to provide regular updates and the FAQ section on the website will be kept fully up to date. We’re committed to being open and transparent throughout this processand whenever there is news to share, it will be communicated appropriately. If you have questions, please submit  them here:https://forms.office.com/e/tjEeqY4nBM

• What happens if the merger does not go ahead?

  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.