In November 2009, the Brooklands College Principal publicly announced the decision to close Ashford Campus and withdraw A-Level provision at the Weybridge campus from September 2010. The ramifications of this decision were big for students, staff and the wider community.
The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) had agreed to fund 90 per cent of a major capital investment as part of the merger between Brooklands College, Weybridge and Spelthorne College, Ashford. Ambitious new builds were planned at both campuses.
A year into the project the LSC ordered the college to stop its project, leaving Brooklands College with an £11 million deficit.
Brooklands College Students’ Union immediately contacted the NUS Vice President Further Education Shane Chowan. Shane arranged a meeting with the Students’ Union executive to develop a policy stance and campaign plan.
The policy included:
- Concern for quality of provision at local sixth forms due to increase in class sizes
- Damage to students’ education due to additional travelling time and costs
- Disruption to individual study time
- Impact upon learning due to change in learning environment and social changes
- Students requiring most help potentially affected due to overloaded
- Learner support services
- Negative impact upon wider community, businesses etc.
Emergency meetings were held on both campuses, an online petition set-up and letters were sent to MPs as the campaign stepped into gear. The Students’ Union executive empowered students to get involved in the campaign and protest as well as getting the support of College staff.
Publicity was generated within the local community and businesses. Many local businesses agreed to promote the petition in their shops and encourage their customers to sign up.
The campaign generated media interest as the campaign grew. A demonstration was held, with the College Principle resigning four days before it took place. Innovative campaigning methods saw the public, students and staff really get on board with the campaign.
Staff and students wore t-shirts and held banners displaying the messages ‘save our site’ and ‘save our A-Levels’, while banners inviting passing traffic to ‘Honk for Ashford’ were enthusiastically responded to.
A second protest with students, parents and staff outside Spelthorne Borough HQ took place ahead of an emergency meeting to discuss future re-development of the Ashford campus site.
Just days after the protests, the new interim Principal promised an open review to attempt to reverse the closure and scrapping of A-Levels. In the following month a recovery plan was announced by interim Principal Bill Grady CBE.
In February 2010 the campaign had been won, after LSC had pledged £4.1 million to Brooklands College, which has since risen to £5.4 million. Education at Ashford and A-Levels at Weybridge had been saved.