Bracknell and Wokingham College
Bracknell & Wokingham College is a general college of further education, offering courses for school leavers, adults and employers training their staff, and based in Bracknell, Berkshire, England. The college became Bracknell & Wokingham College in 1996.[1]
Overview
Established in 1963, the college became Bracknell & Wokingham College in 1996 and today operates out of around 20 centres in the Bracknell Forest and Wokingham District areas. Its modern HQ in Church Road in Bracknell opened in 2009 and caters for students aged 16–19, and adult students taking daytime, evening and weekend courses.
Education
For school leavers, the college offers a range of A Levels, BTECs, Apprenticeships and many more vocational courses. The government and employers are calling for everyone over the age of 16, who doesn’t have a grade C in English Language and Maths GCSE when they join us, to work towards this while they study with us. We will find the best way to help our students with this whether through a re-sit or a functional skill. Our courses combine study with hands-on industry experience and help to develop students’ employability to prepare them for further study, or to go straight into work.
For the adult learner there are many different options. The college offers Access Diplomas to higher education courses, Foundation degrees and other formal qualifications. Our college courses are accredited by Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT), Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEx), CIM, CIPD, City & Guilds, CMI, CPCAB and OCR.
There is also a wide choice of leisure and work courses such as Ceramics, Dance, First Aid, Management, Law, Accounting and many more; which can last a day, a few weeks or throughout the year.
The college also runs training courses for employers who want to improve their staff's knowledge. Whether it be bespoke refresher management training, professional and accredited courses or free skills for the workforce training.
Facilities
The college’s Church Road centre; a £36 million investment, was officially opened by HRH Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex on 29 September 2010. It is a bright and state-of-the-art building offering airy classrooms, high specification facilities and a welcoming environment for students of all ages.
- State-of-the-art headquarters in central Bracknell
- Sports-England standard sports hall
- Dedicated performance room
- Electrical, plumbing and carpentry workshops
- Two vehicle workshops with four and five-bays
- Hair and beauty salons, open to the public so students get employment skills
- A Level study room
- Science laboratories
- Learning resources centre with books and computer access
- Art and photography studios and darkroom
- Media studio and editing suites
- Training kitchen for ten students
- Multi-faith prayer room
The hair & beauty salon, Harmony, is a successful business, open to the public for students to gain employment skills, providing relaxing treatments by Hair and Beauty Therapy students who are supervised by fully qualified staff.
The graduate hair salon, Harmony Plus, is our new professional hair salon staffed by previous students who are now qualified Level 3 Junior Stylists, assisted by some current students.
Visitors to the Star café can enjoy ‘Wild Blue Yonder' a colourful public artwork designed for the Church Road centre by Nicky Hirst.
Ofsted
Ofsted rated the college ‘Good’ in their 2013 report:
- Committed learners work effectively with staff, benefiting from an impressive new college building and a positive learning environment.
- Learners are treated fairly and work well together in an inclusive environment regardless of age, ability or cultural background.
- Resources are good and provide an appropriate professional learning environment.
- Teachers demonstrate good command of their subjects. A consistent and rigorous approach to learning across all subjects aids learners’ development.
- Information, advice, guidance and support for learners are good and help motivate learners to succeed in their learning and progress.
Local engagement
The college is passionate about the local community and providing a useful and helpful service to it. Here is a few examples of the ways that the college engages and stays within the heart of the community:
- Participation in the two schools careers events
- Hosting the Pride of Bracknell Awards
- Hosting JCP job fair
- Close links with Bracknell Regeneration
- Room and facilities hire
- Courses for carers
- Free courses for the unemployed
- Pantomime for local primary school children
- Fundraising for local charities
References
- ^ "About the College". bracknell.ac.uk. Retrieved 2008-03-09.