Under threat Amersham and Wycombe College might have been handed a lifeline, as education bosses discuss a possible milestone merger with Aylesbury College.

Fears have been growing over the future of the college’s 3,500 students, amid serious financial failings and a damning Ofsted inspection.

However, education bosses believe Amersham and Wycombe College’s long-term future could be secured by a merger with Aylesbury College, which would create one single authority across Buckinghamshire.

Behind-the-scenes discussions are ongoing over the possible move, but it is understood that the Amersham, Flackwell Heath and Aylesbury campuses will all be retained if given the green light.

The newly appointed chairman of Amersham and Wycombe College, Edward Weiss, said: "We all recognise the advantages of having one FE College in Buckinghamshire and we will be working towards it very positively.

“We are now in the initial stages of planning the merger and we fully appreciate the work now required. All our stakeholders will be consulted as work proceeds".

Mr Weiss was appointed after the former chairman and vice chairman both left the college.

An acting principal has also been appointed after the interim principal went on ‘extended leave’.

Zahir Mohammed, cabinet member for education and skills, said: “Buckinghamshire County Council fully supports the proposed merger between Aylesbury College and Amersham & Wycombe College.

“Having one dedicated college for Buckinghamshire will strengthen the sector and our ability to influence skills provision within the county.

“Almost a quarter of young people in the county progress into Further Education colleges, with the aim of finding skilled employment locally.

“We believe that the ‘One College for Bucks’ vision will offer them the high quality vocational and technical education they need to be the future workforce of Buckinghamshire.”

The mooted merger comes after Further Education and Sixth Form colleges in England took part in government-led Area Based Reviews, which focused on how best to offer high quality provision that meets the current and future needs of students and employers in the area, supporting economic growth and productivity.

The recent conclusion of this review has led to discussions between Aylesbury College, Amersham and Wycombe College and the Thames Valley Area Review team, focused on bringing together both colleges to create one college for Buckinghamshire.

Both colleges have agreed to pursue this proposal as an opportunity to cater for the needs of students, employers and the communities the colleges serve at all three campuses.

Karen Mitchell, principal and chief executive of Aylesbury College said “It is an exciting time for further education and skills in Buckinghamshire and we can see the great opportunity in establishing one college for Bucks, bringing together the best aspects of both colleges and supporting our shared ambition to build highly responsive vocational and technical learning that delivers job skills of the future.

“The proposed merger will create a larger, more capable and resilient organisation; an institution which will deliver consistently high quality teaching, improving outcomes for students.

“The new merged college will be more financially robust and sustainable, more efficient and better able to respond to the needs of its stakeholders.

“The proposed merger is likely to take several months to finalise; discussions between the two colleges are in very early stages, with due diligence work due to start shortly.

“Consultations will be held with staff, students and other key stakeholder groups. Both colleges have emphasised that for students and staff it is ‘business as usual’.”