CRICKLADE College is changing its name to Andover when the college is renamed in September - following its merger with Sparsholt College.

Sparsholt College Hamp-shire will retain its current name.

The further education campus will officially open its doors as Andover College in September and will comprise two main centres - a sixth form academy and a professions academy.

Students will either belong to the professional academy which will include courses like engineering, construction and beauty therapy or the sixth form academy which will be preparing them for entry into university.

It will have more A Level courses including astronomy, classical civilisation, economics and geology.

The plan to merge the two colleges will enable Andover College to increase the opportunities on offer to its students.

Without it, the college would remain a small institution with a limited range of products.

The name Cricklade is gradually being phased out to be replaced by Andover College.

The new prospectus is also published this week.

The principal of Sparsholt, Tim Jackson, will oversee the running of both institutions.

Cricklade's acting principal Matt Atkinson is a fan of the new Andover College name.

It means, he said, that people can quickly identify where it is and it shows people the institution's commitment to their town.

"We wanted a distinctive name that confirmed our commitment to the community of Andover and that places us at the heart of the developments heralded by the Andover Vision.

"This is an exciting opportunity to establish a new era for education in Andover and Andover College will be firmly established at the heart of the community," he said.

"Eight years ago Cricklade was a very strong college and we are certainly getting it back to that situation," he added.

After the merger there are plans to inject between £15 to £30 million into the college which will help it to increase the opportunities and courses on offer.