Gloucestershire College

Gloucestershire College
Type College of further and higher education
Principal Matthew Burgess
Chair Trish Burton
Location Cheltenham, Gloucester and the Forest of Dean
Gloucestershire
United Kingdom
Students 14,000 full and part-time
Gender Mixed
Ages 16–99
Website Gloucestershire College
Gloucestershire College, from the docks

Gloucestershire College, abbreviated GC or Gloscol, is a college of further and higher education in the county of Gloucestershire, United Kingdom.[1]

It offers a range of education and training programmes, which include:

  • Apprenticeships and higher apprenticeships
  • Professional and technical qualifications
  • Higher education
  • Short courses for businesses
  • Part-time and evening courses
  • English for overseas students

The College is a leading provider of apprenticeships and was awarded the 2018 Association of College's (AoC) Beacon Award for the Promotion and Delivery of Successful Apprenticeships, as well as Training Provider of the Year in the 2018 Gloucestershire Apprenticeship Awards.

The latest OFSTED inspection in 2016 rated Gloucestershire College "good" in every area, highlighting the safe and welcoming environment; engaging, well-designed teaching; and high-motivated students.

History

In 1969, the two branches of Gloucestershire College of Art in Cheltenham and Stroud amalgamated with the Gloucester City College of Art to form the Gloucestershire College of Art and Design (GCAD).

Gloucestershire College of Arts and Technology was formed in 1980 from the merger of four county (Local Education Authority) colleges, Gloucestershire College of Education, Gloucestershire College of Art and Design, Gloucester City College of Technology, and North Gloucestershire College of Technology.[2] In 1990 GlosCAT divided its provision forming a separate Higher Education Trust to go forward with a separate merger to become Cheltenham & Gloucester College of Higher Education and then the University of Gloucestershire.[2][3] It maintained the remaining part as a Local Authority institution, which became a Further Education Corporation.

In early 2011 Gloucestershire College merged with the former Royal Forest of Dean College and thus acquired the sites of the college to safeguard the provision of further education in the region.[4]

A 10-year Memorandum of Understanding has been signed by the University of Gloucestershire's Vice-Chancellor and the Principals of Gloucestershire College and South Gloucestershire and Stroud College to support access to higher education locally in Gloucestershire.[5]

Campuses

Gloucestershire College has three main campuses at large purpose-built facilities in Cheltenham, Gloucester and the Forest of Dean. Its dedicated GC Business Hub, which works exclusively to bring skills, people and businesses together, is based at the Gloucester Campus.

The Forest of Dean campus is relocating from Five Acres to Cinderford in 2018. A state-of-the-art lakeside facility is being built as part of the £100m Cinderford Northern Quarter regeneration project.

Cheltenham Campus

Cheltenham Campus, situated on Princess Elizabeth Way (formerly in The Park), is home to Cheltenham Fashion Academy; the commercial Number One Restaurant and Graduations at Cheltenham Spa salon; a Wicked coffee shop; Tinies nursery; a new library; purpose-built construction and building services workshops; and the international student hub.

Courses available in Cheltenham include accounting; apprenticeships; art and design; business; catering and hospitality; counselling; ESOL, EFL and CELTA; fashion; hairdressing and beauty; health and social care, early years; languages; and teacher training.

Gloucester Campus

Gloucester Campus relocated to a brownfield site within Gloucester Docks in 2007 and the new building, situated on Llanthony Road, won the Civic Trust Award for Best Climate Friendly Scheme in July 2008.

The campus is home to a purpose-built Construction Street; Taylor Theatre; a commercial salon and spa; a Wicked coffee shop; Tinies nursery; dance, TV, photography and recording studios; an Enterprise Lab; purpose-built flight room; sports hall; modern library; and large workshops for engineering, construction and motor vehicle.

Courses available in Gloucester include apprenticeships; arts, media, music and performing arts; business, administration, management and finance; construction and building services; counselling; engineering; ESOL; hairdressing, beauty and holistic therapies; health, care and early years; IT and computing; motor vehicle; sport and public services; teacher training and education; and travel and tourism.

Forest of Dean Campus

The Royal Forest of Dean Campus is set in a rural location at Five Acres in Coleford and is home to purpose-built Construction and Building Services workshops; Little Stars Nursery; a modern library; a bistro and dining room; the commercial Beechwood Restaurant; Forest Theatre; fitness centre; the Outdoor Education Academy and recording studios.

Courses available include Apprenticeships; Arts, Media, Music and Performing Arts; Catering and Hospitality; Construction and Building Services; Counselling; Finance; Independent Living; Hairdressing, Beauty and Holistic Therapies; Health, Care and Early Years; IT and Computing; Sport and Outdoor Education; and Teacher Training and Education.

Students

The college caters mainly for the 16–18 age group.[6] It also offers higher education up to and including HND, HNC and foundation degree levels, NVQ Level 4 and higher apprenticeships.

There are approximately 4,000 full-time and 10,000 part-time students enrolled at Gloucestershire College.

Partnerships

Gloucestershire College has formed strategic partnerships with the University of Gloucestershire, the University of the West of England and Birmingham City University to offer a range of foundation degrees, including Early Years Studies; Health and Complementary Therapies; Public Services; Salon Management; Therapeutic Counselling; Electronic and Computer Engineering; and Health and Social Care.

References

  1. ↑ Gloscol web site
  2. 1 2 Timeline of educational development over two centuries from University of Gloucestershire web site
  3. ↑ University of Gloucestershire, 'Service of Thanksgiving' publication on attainment of University title, 30 April 2002, held in Gloucester Cathedral, pages 5–7
  4. ↑ "Statutory Instrument". UK Government. 15 December 2010. Retrieved 25 May 2013.
  5. ↑ "New deal ignites a revolution in higher education" Archived 10 February 2013 at the Wayback Machine. Gloucestershire Echo and ThisisGloucestershire, 8 February 2013
  6. ↑ Statement from the Chair of the Board Of Governors Archived 19 October 2007 at the Wayback Machine.
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