Two bids to secure a viable future for the Newton Rigg Campus have been unsuccessful.

The final element of the Further Education Commissioner (FEC)-led Newton Rigg Strategic Review has concluded that it had been unable to identify an organisation to continue delivering sustainable land based education at the Newton Rigg Campus, and that Askham Bryan College should continue with finding a buyer for the site.

The review identified that most provision currently delivered at Newton Rigg can be provided in Cumbria by other post 16 FE providers. In addition, other arrangements to ensure the continuity of land based provision in the area are being developed.

The FEC-led Newton Rigg Strategic Review Steering Group’s recommendation was made during its final meeting on February 5, 2021. Askham Bryan College’s governing body subsequently accepted the recommendation at its meeting yesterday (Monday, 8 February).

Dr Neil Hudson, MP for Penrith and The Border, said: "I am deeply saddened that neither of the two bids have been successful in the review process to be formally approved to secure a viable future for the Newton Rigg Campus.

"I know this will be incredibly upsetting to everyone as we have been working hard on the campaign to find a way forward.

"My thoughts are with the staff and students who are adversely affected as well as the wider community.

"I would like to take this opportunity to say a heartfelt thank you to all of the Newton Rigg staff for continuing to provide such first class education to the young people of Cumbria throughout this difficult period.

"Although this news is not what we as a community would have liked, I want to affirm that this is not the end.

"It is vital that we continue to fight to maintain Land-Based education for our young people in Cumbria.

"We already have strong local and national support as well as political support, and I am continuing to work with stakeholders near and far, as well as local government and national government to ensure educational provision in some form can continue.

"This will aim to give us the platform from which a new Newton Rigg can emerge. Live discussions are continuing and plans are taking shape to look into other potential solutions for continuity of educational provision in Eden and I am continuing to engage with Ministers this week to ask for their continued support.

"I will not give up fighting for Newton Rigg and Land-based educational provision. We as a community will not give up.

"It is important that we look to the future and not to view this as the end of Newton Rigg. The message still remains: Penrith needs Newton Rigg, Cumbria needs Newton Rigg, the UK needs Newton Rigg."

Tim Whitaker, chief executive officer and principal, Askham Bryan College, said: “We understand the strength of feeling for Newton Rigg amongst our students, staff and the local and wider community and regret the upset that the campus closure and job losses will cause. We will continue to support our students and staff during this difficult time.”

He continued: “Whilst it was very disappointing that the Strategic Review didn’t receive a sustainable option for Newton Rigg Campus, we welcome the plans for the preservation of land based provision in Cumbria.

"We will support and work with those involved in these plans, to ensure that current students and future applicants interested in land based courses have a smooth transition.

"We have always been clear that Askham Bryan College would not deliver educational provision at Newton Rigg Campus from July 2021, advising our students, staff and local community when the governing body made its final decision in July 2020.

"The Strategic Review has been a separate, comprehensive process that we have fully supported.”