EXETER College and Petroc college are considering a merger in a bid to “strengthen further education across Devon and the wider South West”.

Exeter College is currently rated “outstanding” by Ofsted, whereas Petroc, which has two campuses in Barnstaple and Tiverton, “requires improvement”, according to the education watchdog.

The two organisations have entered a “merger in principle” to explore the possibility. A further vote will be needed by both boards to decide whether they actually merge, with the aim to reach a final decision in November.

“We now enter a period of due diligence, looking at the detailed legal, financial and strategic considerations of merging,” a joint statement reads.

“This is a voluntary process. Neither college are in any form of intervention, so both boards have looked at this through the lens of positioning both organisations in the best possible place for the future for staff, young people, employers, our stakeholders and the community.”

The new group would be “the largest college group in the South West, and one of the largest nationally”, with a £100m annual turnover, the statement says. This would create a “regional education and skills powerhouse with the ability to invest, innovate and deliver “the exceptional” for Devon”.

“Alongside maintaining outstanding sixth form provision in Exeter and developing outstanding sixth form provision in North Devon, we believe there are big opportunities for Devon-wide solutions for high needs education, apprenticeships, adult education and higher technical education, aligned to local economic need,” the statement continues.

“The emerging vision for Petroc’s Tiverton campus is to create a centre dedicated to meeting the needs of, and supporting the progression of, young people with additional needs.”

Both colleges have pledged to create FAQ sections on their websites and a brochure in the coming months to explain what the merger could mean. There will also be a public consultation.