The landmark Stourbridge College campus on Hagley Road will shut its doors this Summer and will be sold by cash strapped Birmingham Metropolitan College.

Under the proposal, current students at Stourbridge College students will be transferred to other Black Country colleges by the start of the new academic year in September 2019. Dudley College of Technology will take over apprenticeship provision and courses including art and design, construction, digital and ICT and motor vehicle.

Halesowen College will take over responsibility for business, early years, health and social care, public services, sport and science. 

The Hagley Road campus, which has been in situ since the 1970s, has had millions spent on it in recent years. It merged with BMet in 2013. The college has further campuses at The Waterfront and on Venture Way in Brierley Hill, where Dudley College will continue to provide education, including courses for high needs learners.

Art and design students at BMet’s Kidderminster campus will also transfer to Dudley College of Technology. Lowell Williams, CEO at Dudley College of Technology, said:

“Our two Dudley based colleges are very well placed to ensure there is continuation of learning for all BMet’s Dudley based students. We can absolutely guarantee a place for every current learner and every new applicant, either in Dudley, Brierley Hill or Halesowen and no employer provision will be lost.

“We look forward to working closely together with BMet and Halesowen in the coming weeks.”

David Williams, pincipal of Halesowen College, stressed to parents and learners there's nothing to worry about, adding:

“We will provide a way for every learner to complete their studies and for new applicants there is a place with us.”

Bosses at BMet confirmed that further information and consultation events are planned and once the transfer proposals are finalised detailed operational proposals will be made public.