 Despite indications that the arts centre would be at the forefront of West Bromwich's 'Golden Future' on 9 May 2013 it was announced that Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council were in discussion with Sandwell College to potentially lease The Public for use as a sixth-form college.The College's own sixth-form is oversubscribed with six applicants for every place.In 2012–13 there were 380,000 visitors to the building from all sections of society – an increase of over 40% from the previous year.