Proposed merger
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 post16 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.
If approved, the merged organisation would educate more than 12,000 learners, employ approximately 1,300 staff and generate a combined turnover of £83 million. This scale would create one of the most influential education and skills providers in the region, enabling greater investment, stronger partnerships and improved opportunities for learners and employers.
Next steps
Both colleges are currently undertaking detailed due diligence work. This will help us understand the full implications of the proposal. A public consultation on the merger was held for six weeks, completing on Monday 21 September. All feedback received during the consultation period will be reviewed and considered by both governing bodies before any final decision is made. There is still a long way to go but we are aiming towards January 2027 for completion.
The feedback from this consultation will be released shortly.
FAQs
We know that students, staff and stakeholders may have questions, so we have answered some of the most frequently asked questions below.