Bridgwater & Taunton College (BTC) and Strode College are proposing a merger, bringing together their combined strengths to form a new College Group consisting of four Colleges. Each College—Bridgwater, Cannington, Taunton, and Strode—within the group will remain committed to delivering inspirational teaching, learning, and skills development, with students benefiting from the advantages of being part of a larger College Group. 

Each College within the Group will continue to build partnerships that positively impact students and their community. Partnering with local employers, councils, and community organisations, each College will deliver education and skills training closely aligned with local needs and priorities, boosting social mobility and economic prosperity. 

The proposed name for the newly formed College Group is the University Centre Somerset College Group (UCS College Group). 

In a joint statement from the Chairs of the Board of Governors, Denys Rayner of BTC and Jane Viner MBE of Strode College said,

“The merger and creation of a College Group are strategic responses to the evolving educational and economic needs of Somerset. By combining our strengths, we can provide more comprehensive support to our students and staff, deliver enhanced services to employers, and more effectively contribute to the regional and national economy. Adopting the University Centre Somerset name for the College Group is a deliberate step towards a bigger vision for the communities the College Group will serve.” 

A public consultation on the proposed merger and name change will be open from 27 March 2025 to 30 April 2025. 

The proposal can be found on the respective College websites, Strode-College.ac.uk and btc.ac.uk, where there is an online survey.