Totton College
| Totton College | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Address | |
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Calmore Road Totton , Hampshire , SO40 3ZX | |
| Information | |
| Type | Sixth Form College |
| Established | 1955 |
| Local authority | Hampshire |
| Chair of Governors | Mike Hawker |
| Principle | Mike Gaston |
| Gender | Coeducational |
| Age | 16 to 18 |
| Enrollment | 1,400 Full time, 5,000 Part time |
| Website | http://www.totton.ac.uk |
Totton College is a sixth form college located in Totton and Eling, Hampshire, England.
The college offers courses to students from the local area. The courses include NVQs, A Levels, BTECs. The college also has a provision of adult education, including offering Access courses to mature students. As well as the main campus, Totton College also operates a small campus and business centre in Dibden Purlieu, as well as a Sure Start Children's Centre in Fawley.
History
Originally, Totton Grammar School (TGS) opened as a secondary school in the autumn term of 1955, and was run by the Hampshire County Council. Entry to the first year (or first form, as it was known) was conditional on passing the national 11-plus examination, normally at the age of 11 or 12. With a nationally fixed school-leaving age of 16, pupils generally went on to complete their examinations in the fifth form. After that, the more academically-inclined pupils (from any secondary school in the area, not just from TGS itself) could apply to stay on for a further two years, in what were known as the lower-sixth and upper-sixth forms.
With an oblique reference to the public school system, the first five forms were split into four classes each, and given the house names of Ash, Beech, Holly and Oak. This was then the focus of all sports days, quizzes and competitions, and theatrical and musical events: a battle between the four houses (wearing their house colours: red, yellow, blue or green, respectively).
In the 1970s, the examinations at the end of the fifth form were the national O-level examinations, and those at the end of the upper-sixth form included the national A-level examinations.
When the government decision was made to change the secondary school system in the UK, and to phase out the grammar schools, the decision was made for TGS to convert itself to Totton Sixth Form College, and thence to Totton College. The conversion started in 1969 (the first Autumn without a first form), and was completed four years later (the first Autumn without a fifth form, and hence with no lower school).
The Recreation Centre was built in 1988 to be both a public facility and one that can be used by the sports department at college. This was accompanied by the Rugby Clubhouse for Tottonians Rugby Club in the late 1990s.
Built in 1998, the Learning Resource Centre houses the Library, holding many books, journals, newspapers and computers as well as several other teaching spaces. More high grade teaching areas were created when the South Wing was created in 2003 also containing meeting, exhibition and teaching facilities. It gave new areas for new subjects to expand, and also provided another entrance way into the complex via Calmore Road. A new reception is located in the new building for visitors.
In 2004, the college bought and renovated the Hanger Farm site, and made it into a high class Arts Centre, one of only few in the area. It contains two proactice rooms, a jazz cafe and of course the theatre itself. It is frequently used to host events in the local community and it is well used by the community.
Back on campus, the buildings were once again added to in 2006 with the CoVE building, standing for Centre of Vocational Excellence. This building is specially designed to house the Foundation Studies of the college and is tailered for this use. In 2010, the new Student Atrium was completed in the place of some old corridors around the CoVE building and the original buildings. The new area is another area for student relaxation and the light and airy space is certainly good for its use.
Facilities
The College currently has a wide variety of facilities. Along with the original buildings, which were built in 1955, the site has been added to many times since. A recreation block is located on site housing a swimming pool, sports hall and Gym. This facility is opened to the public, originally as Totton Recreation Centre, but is known today as Totton Health and Leisure. Students have free access to the facilities in the Recreation Centre. An extensive Learning Resource Centre is also on the site containing classrooms and a Library stocked with Books, Newspapers, Journals, CDs, DVDs and other media. The library also has computer, printing and photocopying facilities. The college also contains the New South Wing block with more modern classroom space, and also the new CoVE (Centre of Vocational Excellence) building to house the foundation studies.
The college also has excellent facilities for students themselves, with a Restaurant/Cafe with Costa Coffee in the Student Lounge and the new social area, the Atrium, having been constructed in September 2010. Also on Campus is the Happy Days Nursery, owned by the college, it can be used by both students and the general public although priority is given to those currently studying at the college.
Outside of campus, the college owns a number of other facilities that work in partnership with the main campus. Hanger Farm Arts Centre is used extensively by the drama department and is located in the surrounding area of the college. To facilitate the college's expansion of course offers, a new Motor Vehicle Training Centre was opened in 2010 in Calmore Industrial Estate, a mile away from the main campus. Minibuses frequently shuttle students between the main campus and these two smaller sites. Totton College also operates the Waterside Skills Centre in Dibden Purlieu, the Junction Centre in central Totton, a Business Development unit located in the Solent Business Centre, and a Sure Start Children's Centre in Fawley.
Principal
The current Principal of the college is Mike Gaston, who took over from former Principal Mark Bramwell in July 2011. Mark retired after being Principle for 17 years, noteing that he had always planned to leave this Academic year.[1] .[2] Mark had also been the National Chairman of the Sixth Form Colleges’ Forum, and retired at the same time.
External links