West Worcestershire MP Harriett Baldwin has held a series of meetings with senior Government Ministers following the shock decision to close Malvern Hills College.

Harriett met with Education Secretary Gavin Williamson, yesterday (Wednesday December 2) to share her concerns and also had further discussions with Skills Minister Gillian Keegan.

The MP has also had a meeting with the Further Education Commissioner Richard Atkins and has urged him to look into the actions of the Warwickshire College Group’s and investigate the process for reaching the decision to put the college up for sale.

Harriett said: “It is clear that the actions taken by the Warwickshire College Group are well beyond what is considered acceptable and the Commissioner agreed that he was concerned and shocked by the decision.

“It is usual for a consultation process to be carried out on different options and the Commissioner was alarmed at the speed at which this decision has been taken, without any proper engagement with the local community.

“My principal concern is that without the college and the decision by Dyson Perrins to withdraw its sixth form teaching, there will now be a significant reduction in local post-16 training and education provision.

“I’m planning a discussion with the group’s chief executive, Angela Joyce, to raise my concerns, and I’ve asked the Commissioner to request that the Minister directly intervenes although Further Education colleges are autonomous.

“This is a time when we should be increasing teaching provision to help young people into work, and I am saddened at the way this out-of-town college group has broken its promises to the detriment of Malvern people.”