St Helens College is a further education college serving the borough of
St Helens. In 2009/10 it had 2,193 full-time adult learners aged 16–18 plus another 585 part-time learners. It had 541 full-time adult learners (age 19+), plus another 3,215 part-time adult learners. The total number of enrolments in 2009/10, including 14-16,
FE, foundation learning, entry to employment, adult learners, and
apprenticeship
Apprenticeship is a system for training a new generation of practitioners of a trade or profession with on-the-job training and often some accompanying study (classroom work and reading). Apprenticeships can also enable practitioners to gain a ...
s was 11,408 benefit claimants.
[Ofsted reports for St Helens college](_blank)
Retrieved 31 March 2016
The College provides a wide range of both further and higher education programmes, including qualifications for City and Guilds, National Diplomas, National Awards, National Certificates and NVQs; it also offers honours and foundation degrees validated through established partnerships with universities, including Central Lancashire, Edge Hill, Huddersfield, Liverpool John Moores, Salford and Sheffield Hallam.
There are a number of entry-level qualifications available. The college traces its foundation to 1896 when it was the town's Gamble Institute, created by philanthropic mayor Sir David Gamble to provide a home of education for the rising generations. After substantial growth and expansion, the institute became the town's Technical College in 1959 and merged with Newton College in 1986. The purpose-built Technology centre began construction the same year.
St Helens College is a member of the
Collab Group
Collab Group is a membership organisation representing a network of 29 colleges and college groups of further education in the United Kingdom.
Collab Group offers services to both public and private sector clients. They work with their members to ...
of high performing schools.
A report following a 2006 Ofsted inspection awarded the college a Grade 2 (good).
Centres
The college has two campuses: one in the Town Centre and one in the Technology Centre at Pocket Nook.
Development
St Helens College underwent a £62m rebuild and modernisation programme at its Town Centre Campus as part of a government-funded "Building Colleges for the Future Programme". Over £30m was spent on phase 1, which was completed in July 2009. The 1959
Brutalist
Brutalist architecture is an architectural style that emerged during the 1950s in the United Kingdom, among the reconstruction projects of the post-war era. Brutalist buildings are characterised by Minimalism (art), minimalist constructions th ...
building was demolished and replaced by an insipid modern structure, and the existing
SmithKline Beecham
GSK plc, formerly GlaxoSmithKline plc, is a British multinational pharmaceutical and biotechnology company with global headquarters in London, England. Established in 2000 by a merger of Glaxo Wellcome and SmithKline Beecham. GSK is the tent ...
building was refurbished. Building work commenced in January 2008, and was completed in 2011. The development was undertaken in stages in order to avoid disruption to students, staff, and local businesses.
Thomas Beecham
Sir Thomas Beecham, 2nd Baronet, Order of the Companions of Honour, CH (29 April 18798 March 1961) was an English conductor and impresario best known for his association with the London Philharmonic Orchestra, London Philharmonic and the Roya ...
's listed
clock-tower building, which is one of the town's most popular landmarks, remains an integral part of the campus.
References
External links
*
* ''The Independent''
St Helens College
* Shaun Woodward
* Uniguru
{{DEFAULTSORT:Saint Helens College
Further education colleges in Merseyside
Further education colleges in the Collab Group
Educational institutions established in 1987
Education in St Helens, Merseyside
1987 establishments in England