College uproar as new principal changes his mind

Newly-appointed principal Tom Espley sensationally quit amid fears the college is about to lose its autonomy and be swallowed-up into a giant further education college covering the whole of Hastings and Rother.

It's being described is a direct threat to the quality of education in the town. Mr Espley accepted the job six weeks ago but suddenly withdrew following a meeting with Henry Ball, the chief executive of the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) - a government quango which funds and is currently carrying out a review of 16+ education in the area.

He said Mr Ball made it clear in the meeting there were 'significant changes' afoot which meant Bexhill was likely to be merged with other sixth-forms to create a 'mega college' for Hastings and Rother.

The merger, described as a Tertiary College, is just one of three proposals in the educational review Another option is for the sixth-forms to stay as they are but form a federation to share skills and increase co-operation.

Bexhill College and local MPs have now rounded furiously on the LSC, accusing it of attempting to steamroller through its own preferred 'mega college' option in the face of public opinion and pre-judging the review before it has been completed.

The LSC denies it has come to any decision. But the college fired-off a letter to parents on Monday following an emergency staff meeting saying: "This clearly indicates that the LSC has a merger scenario in mind and is willing to act in what many would see as a questionable manner to achieve it."

It urges parents to write to the LSC and MP in protest.

MP Greg Barker will ask the Secretary of State to investigate the possibility of malpractice in the process and whether the review has been prejudiced.

Mr Ball said: "Any suggestion we tried to influence him (Mr Espley) into not taking the job is totally inaccurate."

Mr Espley, 46, currently head of Portsmouth Sixth Form College, was due to take over from Paul Ashdown, who resigned earlier this year, at the end of term.

Mr Espley knew about the review but says he was persuaded at the meeting with Mr Ball that the Tertiary College option was likely, though no definite decision had been made.

He said: "The meeting made me uncertain about the future of the college as a separate entity and the stability of the job.

"I have a family and could not relocate knowing three or four months down the line I might have to reapply for my job."