The man in charge of Carlisle College has moved to allay fears about its future after concerns over its finances emerged.

Acting principal Steve Salkeld insists that the college’s performance is strong and has praised governors for identifying that they must find ways to secure a sustainable future for it.

It comes after a review by the Department for Education (DfE) into further education in Cumbria was published this week.

The Cumbria Area Review report revealed that Carlisle College has been judged to be “financially inadequate” and was served with a “notice of concern” about its financial health in November.

This comes little over a year after the college secured a short-term loan from Cumbria County Council, believed to be around £600,000-£700,000, to cover a dip in its finances.

The report also confirmed that Carlisle College does not want to merge with its neighbour Lakes College West Cumbria, at Lillyhall, despite it being the first of five recommendations agreed by the review’s steering group six months ago.

Members of the steering group included representatives from local colleges, Cumbria County Council and Cumbria’s Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), as well as a DfE representative.

Carlisle College’s corporation board later voted to push ahead with a merger with Newcastle-based NCG, first mooted before the area review began.

“Constructive discussions” resumed with NCG last month, Mr Salkeld said .


Steve Salkeld, acting principal Mr Salkeld said: “People do not need to be worried. That is where credit goes to the corporation board for identifying some time ago the issue of sustainability and they have been finding a solution that secures the future of Carlisle College. Given factors like funding and the fact we are a relatively small college, we have been pursuing this for some time.

“What is on the table with Lakes College is not tried and tested but with NCG we get the security of a national group and a group structure which is established.”

Mr Salkeld explained how the college’s financial health has been found to be weak. He said: “The financial health methodology used [in the assessment] has changed. We saw that coming and recognised that we would drop from satisfactory to inadequate.

“Our financial performance is strong in the sense we’re making a small surplus, we’ve got excellent resources, excellent teaching but what we have is issues with working capital – that is why we needed the loan.”

He also said that the college has “relatively high borrowing” linked to the transformation and upgrade of its buildings and estate over the last decade – something no longer acknowledged under the financial health assessment.

Meanwhile the college has picked up praise from education regulator Ofsted. Its latest inspection carried out last month says the college remains a “good” provider and “steady” and “rigorous” improvements have been made.