Financial 'weaknesses' in college campus scheme
GoogleA college has been ordered to work with a government commissioner over "weaknesses" in its multimillion-pound new campus project.
The Department for Education has issued Tyne Coast College with a financial notice to improve after a review in March looked at the scheme which includes new halls of residence and workshop facilities in South Shields.
The report found weaknesses in oversight and governance which the college said was "solely related to the capital project".
A spokesperson for Tyne Coast College said it was working with the commissioner to "implement a robust and comprehensive action plan", adding the campus remained on track to welcome students in 2027.
Further education commissioner Ellen Thinnesen is to work with the college, making an independent assessment of the institution's capability and capacity to make the required changes.
An improvement plan detailing activities and milestone related to the delivery of the new campus will also be developed.
Tyne Coast said the intervention was "time limited" and "did not impact on jobs, with the college remaining both operationally and financially strong".
A spokesperson said the results, which mean the facility has been placed in supervised college status, also did "not reflect the quality of education and support provided to students".
GoogleSouth Tyneside Council said it remained a key partner in the South Shields development, which is a joint regeneration project supported by the Department for Education.
"The notice to improve does not change the council's role in supporting delivery of this transformative project, nor does it detract from the council's commitment to seeing the new campus completed," a spokesperson said.
They added the relocated college remained "the cornerstone of the council's long‑term plans to revitalise and diversify South Shields town centre, boosting footfall and the local economy".
