Kingston College (England)

Kingston College is a College of Further and Higher Education based in Kingston upon Thames, Greater London, England. It has five campuses in the town of Kingston. The main campus is the tallest building in the town and is based on Kingston Hall Road. The second campus is based on Richmond Road and is primarily used for the Arts. The third part of the campus is an SLDD provision at the North Kingston Centre. The fourth campus is at Anstee House on Wood Street and houses the Fashion, Media and English Language Teaching curriculum areas. The fifth and most recent addition is St James's House in Kingston housing teaching education and many of the college's administration functions. There are 3,500 full-time students and 3,500 part-time students in the College.

History

The origins of the College go back to 1899, when the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames built Science and Art Schools and a Technical Institute on the present main site of the College in Kingston Hall Road. The Victorian home of Kingston Technical College (as the institution was then known) survived till the 1960s, when major reconstruction work followed a local reorganisation of further and higher education.

In 1962 Kingston Technical College split into the present college of further education and a college of technology, now Kingston University. Because Kingston College and Kingston University have this common heritage, there remains a strong bond between them today which works to the benefit of students.^{[citation needed]} Jointly run courses and close staff relations ensure that a ladder of educational opportunity is available for both full-time and part-time students from post-GCSE to first degree levels, and beyond.^{[citation needed]} So as to respond to growing student demand, Kingston College has over the past few years broadened the range of courses on offer to keep the curriculum abreast of new technology.^{[citation needed]}

Organisation

Principal

Peter Mayhew-Smith

Faculties

The College is organised into three faculties for the purpose of student administration. These faculties consist of:

• Faculty of Arts, Care and Engineering
• Faculty of Humanities, Business and Science
• Faculty of Professional and Leisure Studies

Facilities

Deli KC

Deli KC is the College canteen and regular meeting spot for students. The canteen offers food at reasonable prices^{[citation needed]} for students and staff only and is usually open throughout the college day.

Arena

Arena is a gym and sports complex available to the students of Kingston College as well as employees of Kingston Council. The facility is adjoined to the Kingston Hall Road Campus and is open between 12-3pm and 5-8pm Monday-Friday. The College uses these facilities for their Dance and Sport classes during the regular timetabled day. The Sports hall with seating for 500 spectators include five-a-side football, basketball, badminton, table tennis, fencing and trampolining.

As well as the sports complex, there is the Arena Hair & Beauty facility which offers a working hairdressers and salon. The latest training facility for the hair and beauty sector has been launched in central Kingston at Arena. This unique^{[citation needed]} centre offers specialist facilities which benefit students, employers and clients alike.^{[citation needed]}

Theatre

The College also houses two theatres with the main being the Arthur Cotterell Theatre which the drama faculty uses to stage productions. The theatre is also used to greet and induct students at the beginning of the year.

Notable alumni

• Cyril Joe Barton, VC
• Eric Clapton
• Sandy Denny
• Noel Edmonds
• Andrew MacKinlay, MP
• David Nash, artist
• Edward Woodward, actor
• Edwina Currie taught as a lecturer at Kingston in the 1970s
• Chris Rooney

Proximity to Kingston

Kingston campuses are located 5 minutes walk from the centre of Kingston.

Satellite institutions

• Penny School Gallery

External links

• Official website