A PLANNED merger between two Nottingham colleges could lead to higher standards and a wider curriculum.

It is hoped proposals to bring together South Nottingham College and Castle College will pave the way for a new city-wide further education federation.

Nottingham City Council wants the combined college to forge a new working link with New College Nottingham if the merger goes ahead next spring.

A public consultation is due to take place over whether Castle College should become part of South Nottingham College from April 1 next year.

The city council will outline its views towards the proposal during an Executive Board meeting today.

A report due to go before councillors recommends they support the merger.

In the report the city council's director of Young People's Learning and Skills, John Yarham, said: "Colleges in Nottingham have improved their success rates in recent years.

"A stable and cohesive further education structure in Nottingham can achieve even more."

The board of Castle College voted in principle to merge earlier this year in light of a £6 million deficit.

Support for the plan is needed from the Skills Funding Agency.

It will also require the approval of the Secretary of State for Education, with a decision expected in the new year.

A South Nottingham College spokesman said: "We welcome the city council's outline support for the proposed merger."

Geoff Hall, principal at New College Nottingham, said: "We believe that the best interests of Nottingham learners would be served by a solution involving all three colleges, so a federation could well be a good way of achieving this."