Principal Sam Parrett in front of the £26million technology centre at Bromley College.

The two main further education colleges in the borough will be merged under new plans.

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The intention to combine Bromley College, in Rookery Lane, with Orpington College, in the Walnuts, Orpington, was announced on Friday, just two days after the Chancellor George Osborne announced drastic cuts of 25 per cent to adult education.

The new institution would use the name Bromley College of Further and Higher Education and both existing campuses, which have recently undergone multi-million pound revamps, will be retained.

Principal of Orpington College, Simon Norton, said: “Merging in this way will enable us to maximise the range and quality of courses we offer to students and employers.

“This will be a genuine merger, drawing on the acknowledged strengths of both colleges.”

Orpington College cut some 60 jobs at the end of the summer term, equivalent to 40 full time posts, as it tried to plug gaps in funding. It also saw a five per cent reduction in student numbers.

Bromley College also announced plans to cut jobs before the summer.

Both colleges have seen improvements to their facilties worth over £50million completed in the last six months. Orpington’s the Walnuts campus was redesigned whilst former fastest man on Earth Richard Noble opened Bromley College’s £26million business centre in June.

Sam Parrett, Principal of Bromley College, said: “The previous work had shown a widespread support and an underlying strategic case for merging the two colleges. .We will continue to provide the best possible range of courses whether you’re a school leaver, an apprentice, someone returning to education as a mature student or perhaps wanting to gain a university-level or professional qualification.”

The two colleges will now begin work required to enable the merger to take place.