The news comes six months after a devastating Ofsted report which branded the college as inadequate, giving it the lowest possible marks in nine of 11 areas singled out for inspection.

Following its publication, college boss Ruth Durbridge resigned and Carole Kitching was appointed interim principal. New governors were drafted in, including two appointed by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) to help the college draw up a recovery plan.

Ms Kitching said: "We always made it clear that merger with another college was an option. Trying to maintain independence may have been an attractive option in the short term, but a small college is always going to be susceptible to minor changes in funding and governors took this decision after careful consideration in the best longterm interests of the college and the community it serves.

"We will now seek a merger partner for the college in order to support the provision of the highest quality of vocational education and training in the borough of Scarborough.

"Ms Kitching said the college is the 17th smallest in England and needed to merge to give it a "higher level of financial security". The governors were openminded about which other facility they might merge with, but expected the process to be completed by the start of the new school year in September 2009.

She also said the proposal would not affect plans for a new £10 million facility on the Lady Edith's Avenue site.

"In fact I would have thought that our plans for a new college would be quite an attractive option for potentail partners," she said. North Yorkshire LSC director Liz Burdett said:

"It is the priority of the LSC that any merger produces positive and lasting benefits for the people and employers of Scarborough and the surrounding area.

"The LSC welcomes the governors' decision which will open up exciting new opportunities for vocational training in the area."

Cllr Jane Mortimer, chairman of the board of governors, said: "The board's decision will bring the greatest benefits to all learners in the area. We have a real opportunity now to move forward and help bring clarity to education and training in the borough.

"Governors will be actively seeking a partner that will retain a real voice for local people and a college that is firmly at the heart of the community."

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