South East Essex College is undecided over whether it will put in a bid to merge with Basildon College.

New Basildon College chiefs announced it hoped to merge with another Education institution within a 12-mile radius in the next year.

The troubled college was hit by controversy earlier this year when the Further Education Funding Council gave it the third worst ever report which revealed poor standards and staffing problems.

Prinicpal Chris Chapman has since been suspended.

On Friday, the New Basildon College's governing body announced plans to investigate a merger, to encourage growth and improvement.

Colleges within 10 to 12 miles of Basildon are the most likely choices - a radius which includes Seevic in Thundersley, South East Essex College in Southend, Thurrock College, as well as areas such as Barking and Havering.

Both institutions would be renamed and run as one new college, but Basildon may not be headquarters - and a move to a new campus could be considered.

College union Natfhe welcomed the idea of improving provision without cutting staff. Acting principal John Gould said: "We're starting to plan for the next few years, but so much that we could do will be frustrated purely because we are not big enough.

"A larger organisation would have more influence and attract more funding."

Invitations to consider a merger will be sent out from this week, to colleges considered eligible.

A decision, which must be made by the Secretary of State for Education and confirmed by an Act of Parliament, could take place as early as next August.

A spokesman for South East Essex College could not comment on the possibility of a merger but welcomed any improvements for local further education.

John Wallace, principal of Thurrock College, said he hoped to discuss a possible merger with Basildon bosses.

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