Dinnington College set to close this summer with hundreds of staff and pupils affected

Jason Austin, the CEO of the RNN Group who run the college, informed staff of the news at meetings held across the Group’s sites at Dinnington, Rotherham town centre, Worksop and Wath-upon-Dearne. Under the plans, the campus would shut in July.

The Dinnington Campus is the only one set to close. No fewer than 122 staff could be affected by the change, which would see 56 full-time staff members relocated to other sites.

A final decision will be made after the staff consultation ends on March 15.

The site is currently home to 575 learners studying 38 different courses, with around 55 students due to progress to the next academic year. They would also be relocated. Courses for this academic year are not affected.

A review found the Dinnington Campus building is under-utilised, with 30 per cent of the site mothballed and facing expensive maintenance costs.

Mr Austin said: “Further savings need to be made to ensure that RNN Group is on a secure and sustainable footing and well positioned to provide high quality education and technical training to the students, communities and businesses that it serves.”

The Group say money raised from the sale of the Dinnington campus land and property will be reinvested into the curriculum and facilities at its other sites. The Dinnington curriculum includes animal care and management, construction, countryside management and horticulture, foundation learning, health science, motor vehicle and access to higher education courses.