Two top North Yorkshire colleges are to merge in a move designed to take their students into the 21st century.

York Sixth Form College and York College of Further and Higher Education say the agreement will mean better use of resources, more choice and greater flexibility for students planning their post-16 education in the city.

The move, taken after months of negotiations between governors of both institutions, has to be approved by Education Secretary David Blunkett following consultation with key organisations in the community.

If Mr Blunkett gives the green light, the merger will come into effect early next year.

The two colleges, in Tadcaster Road, will retain their separate identities, but with one principal, one governing body and the interchange of students, facilities and staff increasing.

Together they operate an annual budget of £16 million, with 650 staff serving 3,500 full-time students and more than 10,000 part-time students.

York Sixth Form College principal Mike Galloway stressed the merger was not forced by finances, but reflected a growing climate of co-operation in education.

It will enable the 'new' college to meet expected changes to funding and curriculum arrangements for post-16 education in the near future, he said. At the same time, it would see York leading the way in meeting tough Government targets for widening participation in further education, developing the theme of lifelong learning.

Mr Galloway said: "There is no doubt that the new corporation will be even better positioned to meet the city's educational needs and better able to respond to future market demand."

He said the merger would secure jobs for staff at the two colleges, with more vacancies likely.

Dr David Mason, principal of YCFHE, who will retire once the merger goes through, said the sixth form, created in 1985, had been sited next to YCFHE so that closer collaboration would be possible in the future.

Dr Mason said: "The merger provides access to a new breadth of expertise and resources for students at all levels. The move is good news for staff, students and community as a whole."

He said A-level students would still be based at the sixth form site, with vocational courses being offered at YCFHE.

But A-level students would have improved access to courses now being run by YCFHE and vice versa.

"As far as the customer is concerned things will look very much as they are now," said Dr Mason. "But there will be more flexibility as the curriculum broadens."

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