Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, for what reasons the application from Warrington Collegiate to change its name to Warrington and Vale Royal College on its merger with Mid Cheshire College has been refused; and if she will make a statement.

Officials are working closely with the college ahead of its planned merger with Mid Cheshire College on 1 August 2017 to ensure that its application for change of name meets the published criteria and stands the best possible chance of being approved.

The name Warrington and Vale Royal College requires approval from both the Cabinet Office and Companies House for use of the word Royal. An earlier application made by the college in June was rejected by Cabinet Office. A second, revised, application was approved by Cabinet Office on 12 July 2017 and a formal application to the department was received on 13 July 2017.

The name still requires approval from Companies House, but there is sufficient time for this to be approved before the proposed merger date of 1 August 2017.