THE number of students from Northwich attending courses at Warrington and Vale Royal College (WVR) has dropped sharply since it closed its Hartford campus.

Figures obtained under the Freedom of Information Act show that in 2017-18 – the final year before the Hartford campus closed – there were 389 students aged 16 to 18 years old, living in the CW8 and CW9 postcode areas, who were studying across the college’s sites in Warrington, Hartford and Winsford.

That figure fell by 105 to 284 in 2018-19 after the Hartford campus closed, before another drop to 218 in 2019-20 as of November 21.

There was also a considerable drop in the number of students from CW8 and CW9 aged 19 or above – from 557 in 2017-18, to 376 in 2018-19 and 224 in 2019-20, although more students could enrol onto courses in the new year.

It means that in total, the number of Northwich residents learning at WVR fell by almost a third in the first year since Hartford’s site closed – from 946 to 660 – and that figure stood at 442 as of November 21.

Mike Amesbury, Labour MP for Weaver Vale, believes the figures obtained by the Guardian back up the case for new college provision in Northwich.

He said: “The Guardian’s investigation highlights why so many of us were opposed to the campus closure in the first place. Enrolment has dropped in both younger and more mature students.

Northwich Guardian:

“For younger people this could significantly hamper their life chances, and I speak from experience as a former careers adviser who knows the real importance of further education (FE).

“Likewise for mature students, it risks cutting off a potential vital lifeline for people who want to retrain or develop their skills and experience, which is crucial in the changing world of work in which we find ourselves.

“WVR must re-invest in Northwich so the town’s young people and adult learners aren’t left behind. I’ll also continue to push Boris Johnson’s government for vital investment for the FE sector, which has been absolutely cut to the bone in recent years.”

The Guardian also requested the same information from Cheshire College South and West (CCSW), which has sites in Crewe and Ellesmere Port.

Both colleges were asked to provide data for 16 to 19-year-old students and students aged 20 or over, but WVR provided the data for 16 to 18-year-olds and students aged 19 and above.

The number of 16 to 19-year-olds at CCSW rose from 131 in 2017-18, to 258 in 2018-19 and 279 in 2019-20 – meaning more school leavers are now choosing to study in Crewe or Ellesmere Port since the Hartford site closed.

Northwich Guardian:

There was also an increase in learners aged 20 and above from 86 in 2017-18 to 111 in 2018-19 – and although the number has dropped to 78 so far this year, it could increase in early 2020.

However, WVR is insistent the figures do not prove that the closure of the Hartford campus has led to a drop in student numbers among Northwich residents.

A WVR spokesman said: “The college has looked at the data and it is clear that no accurate comparisons or conclusions may be drawn from it.

“The college continues to invest wholeheartedly in a range of marketing and recruitment activities and has regular engagement with a variety of stakeholders such as partner high schools and employers.

“Prospective learners have attended college open events, school assemblies, attendance at lunchtime advisory sessions, parents’ evenings and careers fairs, they have also received the college prospectus, flyers and personal invitations to subject specific information, advice and guidance events.

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“The college also has a strong presence on social media, in local newspapers and has invested in external advertising.

“WVR continues to invest in free transport for learners in the Vale Royal area, both to the Winsford and Warrington campuses, and this has proved popular with learners.

“The college considers its provision carefully as part of the usual curriculum planning cycle, with investment to match viable opportunities for growth, where evident.”

A planning application to knock down the former campus in Hartford and build 108 homes in its place is still being considered by Cheshire West and Chester Council.