K College has sites across Kent, including Tonbridge

exclusive by political editor Paul Francis

The financially-troubled K College could be broken up after the government unveiled a far-reaching shake-up that is likely to see other organisations taking over its existing campuses.

Skills minister Matthew Hancock has written to the Folkestone and Hythe MP Damian Collins to say there will be an open competition for other groups to take over the sites.

K College, which has 15,000 students, is not among those bidding to run the separate campuses - but it is thought highly likely other education groups will be involved.

It would signal the end of K College in its current form after just three years and could see the individual campuses in Ashford, Folkestone, Tonbridge, Dover and Tunbridge Wells operating independently.

But it comes as the college's interim principal Phil Frier today admitted the merger of South and West Kent College hadn't worked.

The move means the possible closure of sites in Folkestone and Dover is no longer on the agenda.

Skills minister Matthew Hancock. Picture: Andrew Parson

In a letter to Mr Collins, Mr Hancock said: "Following our meeting in February in relation to K College, I am writing to let you know that, as expected, the college has submitted a proposal that its current delivery should be tendered in a number of geographically-based lots, through an open and competitive process, including Folkestone."

He goes on to say K College will not be running the tendering process.

"The Skills Funding Agency and Education Funding Agency have recommended this proposal is accepted with the condition they will manage the competition to ensure transparency and to allow the existing management of K College to concentrate on maintaining continuity of learning while this process is under way."

The college is in serious financial difficulties and announced last year that it had a deficit of £16million.

Around 170 jobs are being lost as part of a drive to curb the deficit and the crisis triggered the resignation of former principal Bill Fearon.

Mr Collins welcomed the news. He said: "This is an important step forward and means that the government and Skills Funding Agency have listened to the key points that we have made throughout this process.

"These are that there needs to be further education provision in Folkestone and it cannot be merged into another college in a different town. Also, that the needs of the current students must continue to be met."

The government will continue to fund the existing K College until any new provider takes it over so students can continue with their courses.

The college was subject to a three-month review at the end of last year when the government sent in a hit squad to assess what the future could be.

Interim Principal of K College, Phil Frier, said: "The merger of South and West Kent College has not worked.

"I believe further education colleges should be responsive to the needs of local employers and learners, and the Corporation believes the proposal going forward to the minister is the best way forward.

"Preparations are under way for an open and competitive process to secure new college structures by September 2014."

He added that he intended any transition for staff and students to be "seamless" and recruitment to courses starting in September would continue as normal.