Stay of execution for Forth Valley College campus as board u-turns on closure
Forth Valley College’s Alloa Campus has been given a last minute reprieve
An under threat college campus has been given a stay of execution after management confirmed it would remain open for another academic year.
Forth Valley College was consulting on plans to shut its Alloa campus despite an ongoing campaign to save it.
Following a meeting of the college board on Thursday night it has now been decided the recent Scottish budget funding allocation will support the campus for 2026-27.
Kenny MacInnes, Principal of Forth Valley College, said: “I am delighted to confirm that the Alloa Campus will remain open for 2026-27 to allow us to continue to explore options to secure the long-term delivery of further education from the campus to the communities of Clackmannanshire.
“While the 10 per cent uplift in college funding announced in the Scottish Budget also includes a mix of additional capital and transformation funding - and is not entirely grant-in-aid allocation - we have had a series of positive discussions with the Scottish Funding Council and understand that every college will receive an uplift above inflation.”
Mr MacInnes went on to say the board has a “degree of confidence” about funding for the next academic year and the impact it will have on the institution’s previous projected deficit.
“After careful consideration and acting in good faith, the Board have made this decision in the best interests of our staff, students, and partners,” he added.
“This decision was based on the information we currently have available and that our assumptions are reasonable.”
On Thursday afternoon a demonstration was held outside the meeting as part of an ongoing campaign to save the campus.
While the move has been welcomed, the college is clear that the campus is still under a longer term threat.
Alloa MP Brian Leishman also warned this is not a long-term solution due to chronic underfunding in the sector over the past five years.
Mr Leishman, Labour MP for Alloa and Grangemouth, said: “Be under no illusion, the 10 per cent uplift from the SNP Scottish government is nowhere near enough to undo the damage they inflicted on the further education sector during their long tenure.
“What the SNP do not want you to know is that in reality, college funding in Scotland has fallen by 20 per cent in real terms since 2021/22, as reported by Audit Scotland, due to flat-cash settlements which did not follow inflation.
“This uplift is a brass neck attempt to woo voters in an election year.
“On the other hand, I would like to pay tribute to trade unions and the local community who have been out in force to protest against the potential closure.
“The fight goes on to secure the long-term future of the college sector in Scotland.”
Forth Valley is one of a number in the further education sector that is struggling to offset financial deficits.
Colleges Scotland, the umbrella body, called for the Scottish government to award a funding uplift in the recent budget.
While its ultimate funding demands were not met, the sector was given an increase in financial support.
However, Mr MacInnes said: “Although we are pleased that the Alloa Campus will remain open for 2026/27, it is important to recognise the ongoing challenges.
“If the sector receives flat-cash settlements for 2027-28 while meeting above-inflation national pay awards, the College’s longer-term financial sustainability will remain under significant pressure.
“The sector is approaching a critical point where a more sustainable, long-term funding model is required.”
The news that the campus may close was announced last September.
Forth Valley College also has bases in Falkirk and Stirling.
Further education minister Ben Macpherson said: “I am delighted that Forth Valley College’s Alloa Campus will remain open and thank staff, students, trade unions, businesses and local representatives, notably constituency MSP Keith Brown, for all of their hard work to campaign for this. I am also particularly grateful to Forth Valley College for the constructive approach they have taken towards engaging with the Scottish Government and Scottish Funding Council to resolve the situation and move forward positively.
"The budget set by the SNP Government, and passed this week, includes a 10 per cent, £70 million funding increase for colleges, bringing our overall annual investment to £764 million, a move warmly welcomed by colleges themselves. We listened directly to the sector to deliver this significant, impactful uplift in investment, and it's quite frankly utterly perplexing and nonsensical that not even one Labour politician in the Scottish Parliament voted to pass this budget."
A spokesman for the Scottish Funding Council said: “Decisions on the operation of campuses are for college boards, and we welcome this announcement which gives certainty to students, prospective students, college staff and the wider community.”
Comments
Want to join the conversation? Please or to comment on this article.