West Suffolk College

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West Suffolk College
Address
Map
Out Risbygate

Bury St Edmunds
,
Suffolk
,
IP33 3RL

England
Information
TypeFurther Education, Higher Education & Apprenticeships
Established1951
Local authoritySuffolk
PrincipalDr Nikos Savvas
Staff771
GenderCoeducational
Age14+
Enrollment10,662 (15/16)
PublicationThe Gateway Magazine
Websitehttp://www.westsuffolkcollege.ac.uk/
The Gateway at West Suffolk College, July 2015

West Suffolk College is a Further Education college in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk.[1] It is a member of the University of Suffolk, commonly known as the University of Suffolk at West Suffolk College,[2] and provides a range of apprenticeships and undergraduate degree courses.

Campuses

The main campus is situated on Out Risbygate in Bury St Edmunds, while the Building Services and Construction facilities are at The Milburn Centre on Anglian Lane, a short walk from the main campus.

The college also has a number of local colleges throughout Suffolk.[3] These are located in: Haverhill, Ipswich, Mildenhall, Stowmarket, Newmarket, Thetford and Sudbury. In 2015/16, there were 2,915 students enrolled on adult education courses.[4]

Each summer, the college has an awards ceremony at St Edmundsbury Cathedral.[5]

University of Suffolk at West Suffolk College

In 2015/16, 649 students studied foundation and undergraduate degrees at the University of Suffolk at West Suffolk College.[4] Graduation ceremonies are held every September/October at St Edmundsbury Cathedral.[6] The University of Suffolk at West Suffolk College is renowned for its state-of-the-art recording studios and music production courses, with students continuing to exclusively record live concerts by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO).[7]

History

In 1951, the Bury St Edmunds Technical Institute began offering Engineering, Building and vocational evening classes in the grounds of the Silver Jubilee School. In 1958, it decided to construct a new purpose built college on its own ground, at the Gibraltar Barracks site, where the West Suffolk College is today. It was officially opened on 29 May 1961.[8]

In the 1970s and 1980s, the college expanded; from 1970 to 1977, the Engineering, Construction and Motor Vehicle training centres were built.[8] In 1983, Australia House, a dedicated beauty, hair and hospitality school was opened. A year later, a purpose built facility for students with learning difficulties and disabilities was built.[8] The expansion continued into the 1990s; with Gibraltar House opening in 1999.[8]

In 2006, the college was awarded Grade 1: Outstanding by Ofsted and in 2011, Dr Ann Williams, the then Principal, was appointed an OBE for services to Further Education in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list.[8] She was replaced by Dr Nikos Savvas in 2013.[8] In 2014, a new building, The Gateway, now the face of the college, was opened. The following year the college received confirmation of a £7m government grant to help pay for an £8m energy, engineering and manufacturing teaching centre.[9] In September 2015, the college began Animal Care and Management courses at the Newmarket Academy.[10] In 2016, the college was ranked in the top five per cent in the country for its achievement rates in Level 3 Vocational Diplomas, the best in the Eastern Region,[11] and the second best GCSE English resit results in the country.[12]

The college offers a range of Apprenticeships and in 2016, it enrolled over 1,000 people onto its apprenticeships,[13] with an achievement rate eight per cent higher than the national average at 78%.[13]

Following an inspection under new grading criteria, the college was graded as 'Good' by Ofsted.[14][15]

Principal

Dr Nikos Savvas has a doctorate in High Energy Particle Physics from Manchester University and has held senior roles in the further education sector for a number of years. He is a Board member for University of Suffolk,[16] ACER (Association of Colleges in the Eastern Region) [17] and the New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership for Norfolk and Suffolk.[18] He took up the role of Principal at West Suffolk College in September 2013.[19]

Suffolk Academies Trust

The college is a sponsor of the Suffolk Academies Trust, a collaboration with One, which has been given permission by the Department for Education to build a new sixth form in Bury St Edmunds.[20] The sixth form will aim to cater for up to 1,700 pupils.[21]

Alumni

References

  1. ^ "Full & Part-Time Courses | West Suffolk College - Where Careers Begin". www.westsuffolkcollege.ac.uk. Retrieved 16 September 2015.
  2. ^ Anonymous (5 July 2016). "University of Suffolk at West Suffolk College". University of Suffolk. Retrieved 31 January 2017.
  3. ^ "Adult Education & Leisure Learning | Our Courses | West Suffolk College". www.westsuffolkcollege.ac.uk. Retrieved 16 September 2015.
  4. ^ a b "Key facts | News and Events| West Suffolk College". www.westsuffolkcollege.ac.uk. Retrieved 16 September 2015.
  5. ^ "College Celebrates Students Success | The Gateway Magazine". Retrieved 31 January 2017.
  6. ^ "Success, Smiles and Sunshine for Students | The Gateway Magazine". Retrieved 31 January 2017.
  7. ^ "Student recording of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra | The Gateway Magazine". Retrieved 4 May 2017.
  8. ^ a b c d e f "History | About Us | West Suffolk College". www.westsuffolkcollege.ac.uk. Retrieved 16 September 2015.
  9. ^ "Latest news | News and Events | West Suffolk College". www.westsuffolkcollege.ac.uk. Retrieved 10 February 2017.
  10. ^ "Animal Care & Animal Management Diplomas in Newmarket". www.westsuffolkcollege.ac.uk. Retrieved 16 September 2015.
  11. ^ "College is One of the Best in the Country | The Gateway Magazine". Retrieved 31 January 2017.
  12. ^ "College delight after achieving second best GCSE English results in the country | The Gateway Magazine". Retrieved 31 January 2017.
  13. ^ a b "Latest news | News and Events | West Suffolk College". www.westsuffolkcollege.ac.uk. Retrieved 31 January 2017.
  14. ^ "The common inspection framework: education, skills and early years" (PDF). GOV.UK. Retrieved 10 February 2017. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  15. ^ "College bucks national trend after Ofsted inspection | The Gateway Magazine". Retrieved 10 February 2017.
  16. ^ Savvas, Nikos (18 August 2016). "Dr Nikos Savvas". University of Suffolk. Retrieved 31 January 2017.
  17. ^ "Board Members – ACER – Association of Colleges in the Eastern Region". www.acer.ac.uk. Retrieved 31 January 2017.
  18. ^ "The Board - New Anglia LEP for Norfolk and Suffolk". New Anglia LEP for Norfolk and Suffolk. Retrieved 31 January 2017.
  19. ^ "Latest news | News and Events | West Suffolk College". www.westsuffolkcollege.ac.uk. Retrieved 31 January 2017.
  20. ^ "Plans for new sixth form college in Bury St Edmunds given the green light – Suffolk Academies Trust". www.suffolkacademiestrust.ac.uk. Retrieved 31 January 2017.
  21. ^ "Matt Hancock is delighted by approved plans for a new sixth form college". Matt Hancock MP. Retrieved 10 February 2017.

External links

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