| SPOTLIGHT |
The first two colleges to enter educational administration have emerged from this having been taken over by a neighbouring institution.
Hadlow College and West Kent & Ashford College will become part of North Kent College.
Educational administration is a special legal status created for insolvent colleges, which allows administrators to give priority to the interests of students rather than those of creditors.
Hadlow in May 2019 became the first college to enter educational administration after it cited “immediate financial challenges”.
It was followed three months later by West Kent & Ashford after a report by regulator the Further Education Commissioner concluded its board “have failed in their fiduciary duties and in so doing put the solvency and long-term financial sustainability of the college and its learners at risk”. The High Court then ordered the appointment of administrators.
David Gleed, chief executive and executive principal of North Kent College, said: “We are delighted to welcome the staff and students from Hadlow and West Kent Colleges into a larger college.
“As we move into this exciting new chapter it brings with it a wealth of opportunities. We’ve secured course provision for all current and new learners and this is the outcome we have worked exceptionally hard to achieve.”
Mark Smulian
