THE new Forest campus of Gloucestershire College could open amid a huge change to which courses are offered.

A consultation opened last week on plans by the college for a greater emphasis on technical education and apprenticeships while dropping A-Levels.

Education chiefs are at pains to emphasise that if the changes are made, current A-Level courses will run their full terms.

The college’s vice-principal, Peter White, said the changes are being considered against a backdrop of falling numbers of teenagers, wider possibilities following GCSEs, less take-up of A-Levels and financial pressures.

Currently only two schools in the Forest – Newent and Wyedean at Sedbury – have sixth forms while students from the Dean Academy in Lydney, Forest High in Cinderford, Lakers in Coleford and Dene Magna in Mitcheldean have to transfer to the college or schools outside the district.

Part of the multi-million plans for replacing the current campus at Five Acres with a new facility at Cinderford, was a partnership with Dene Magna to provide sixth form education.

Dene Magna’s head, Steve Brady said the school would continue to support and work with the college, whatever the outcome of the consultation.

Mr White said: “The number of young people has declined and the large majority of students will be on technical education courses.

“There are a wider range of apprenticeships, not just in the traditional areas such as construction and hairdressing.

“The teaching and results of A-Levels have been excellent but you need sufficient numbers to run courses.

“The government is emphasising technical education and we provide excellent technical training, that is our heritage.”

He said the changes were in tune with a recent report by the Gloucestershire Local Enterprise Partnership about the economy of the future and the skills that would be needed to make a success of it.

The consultation – which includes plans to drop A-Levels at the Forest and Cheltenham campuses – will run at least until the middle of May with parents, staff and unions involved.

Mr White added: “No decisions have been made and we are listening – we don’t have a monopoly on good ideas.”

Steve Brady said: “We’ve been actively working with the college for the past four years and we’re passionate about the vision they’ve got.

“The plan has been to work with them on A-Level provision in the college and, whatever the outcome of this consultation, we’ll continue to support and work with them.”

The final piece of the funding jigsaw for the new college – which will be the centrepiece of the Northern Quarter development – was put in place last month, confirming the move from Five Acres will take place.