The EKC Group has taken on another educational facility after bringing the Canterbury campus of Hadlow College into its growing stable.

It follows a troubled period for the Hadlow Group which went into educational administration last year and led to the departures of key management staff.

But now the satellite campus in the city has the security and support of the East Kent College Group which already runs further education colleges in Canterbury, Broadstairs, Dover, Folkestone, Ashford and Sheppey.

The Spring Lane site of Hadlow College accommodates around 100 students and offers courses including animal management and horticulture.

EKC Group bosses say the college will remain a stand alone site that develops its own educational programme but will strengthen the group's education and training provision in east Kent.

The group has also taken on Ashford College and its 1,077 students, formerly part of the West Kent and Ashford College group which also went into administration in a move also facilitated by the joint administrators.

Canterbury College principal, Lucy McLeod, said: “We are delighted to welcome the staff and students from Hadlow College’s Canterbury campus into the Canterbury College community.

"It is an exciting opportunity to build on the excellent work they do there and develop specialised animal and land based provision for East Kent.

"Joining forces with the land-based provision we already have at Canterbury College will enable us to offer outstanding quality learning for young people and adults wishing to train in this sector."

EKC Group chief executive, Graham Razey added: "Having them in our group will enable us to better serve our local communities, ensuring that we are able to truly deliver on the skills priorities needed to enable us to achieve our mission, of enhancing the social and economic prosperity of the communities we serve."

"Despite the current challenges we face, we know that our county’s employers will be well positioned to face them, and I am really proud that we’ll be there to support the whole of east Kent’s recovery once the UK has beaten coronavirus."

Interim principal and CEO of Hadlow and Ashford College, Graham Morley said: "The transfer of Ashford College and the Canterbury provision of Hadlow College to the EKC Group is the culmination of months of hard work and planning.

"With it, we have successfully secured the long-term future of further education within Ashford and preserved the specialised land-based provision at the Spring Lane site in Canterbury.

"However, given the close working relationships that exist between Ashford College and West Kent College, as well as between Hadlow College and those employed at Spring Lane, it is also with sadness that we say goodbye to our valued colleagues who are transferring to EKC Group. We wish them every success for the future.

"There is no disputing that the past few months have been challenging times, but the professionalism, hard work and commitment demonstrated by all of the staff involved is undisputed and has facilitated a move towards a secure future. This move brings to an end the uncertainty for students, staff and the wider communities we serve."

For further information about the EKC Group and its colleges, visit ekcgroup.ac.uk.

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