Chris has expressed serious concern following the announcement that Forth Valley College’s Alloa campus could face closure as part of drastic cuts to secure the institution’s future.
The college, which also has campuses in Falkirk and Stirling, has said that its three-campus model is no longer financially sustainable under the current level of Grant-in-Aid funding from the Scottish Funding Council. A 10% reduction in credit allocation since 2023/24, combined with rising staff and maintenance costs, has left the college facing stark choices about its future estate.
The Alloa campus currently supports over 460 students across a range of courses, including Early Education and Childcare, Health and Social Care, Construction, Electrical Installation, Hairdressing, Beauty, and ESOL, as well as school-college partnership programmes with local schools. Staff and students have been told teaching will continue until June 2026 while decisions are considered, with options ranging from sale and leaseback to full closure of the site.
Chris said:
“I am concerned about Forth Valley College’s recent announcement, and it is clear that this is the culmination of concerns that have been raised for many months. The Scottish Government have been acutely aware of the pressures facing the college sector, yet they have chosen to ignore them.
Although the Alloa Campus is not in my constituency, the college serves the entire Forth Valley region. Any decision that weakens one part of that network has an impact on the others. I know many of my constituents will be deeply concerned about what this means for access to education and training opportunities in the future.
I have requested a meeting with the Principal of Forth Valley College to fully understand the scale of the challenges they face, and to ensure the voices of students, staff, and the wider Forth Valley community are heard. Forth Valley College plays a vital role across our region and I will continue to press the Scottish Government to support it.”
This announcement comes against a backdrop of wider pressures across Scotland’s college sector. The Scottish Government has slashed higher and further education budgets in recent years, forcing institutions to cut staff, reduce courses, and scale back estates. Colleges Scotland has repeatedly warned that without urgent action, the ability of colleges to deliver skills, training, and opportunities for local communities will be severely undermined.
Chris added:
“ Alloa campus case is a clear warning sign of the consequences of continued underfunding,the college sector has been put under strain by mismanagement by the Scottish Government. It is in dire need of support, and the Scottish Government should be stepping in to offer the necessary assistance.
A change of direction is needed to ensure communities do not lose access to the vital education and training opportunities.”
