New College, Swindon

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New College Swindon
New College Swindon Logo Colour Version 2020.png
Address
Wikimedia | © OpenStreetMap
New College Drive

Swindon
,
Wiltshire
,
SN3 1AH

England
Coordinates51°33′27″N 1°45′30″W / 51.5575°N 1.7583°W / 51.5575; -1.7583Coordinates: 51°33′27″N 1°45′30″W / 51.5575°N 1.7583°W / 51.5575; -1.7583
Information
TypeFurther and higher education
Established1983; 38 years ago (1983)
Department for Education URN130851 Tables
OfstedReports
PrincipalCarole Kitching
GenderCoeducational
Enrolmentapprox. 4,800
Websitewww.newcollege.ac.uk Edit this at Wikidata

New College is a further and higher education institution in Swindon, Wiltshire, England. There are two main campuses, Queens Drive and North Star, as well as an Adult Learning Centre in Swindon town centre.

The College delivers qualifications and training opportunities for learners of all ages and abilities including GCSEs, A Levels, T Levels, vocational qualifications, higher education and degree-level courses, apprenticeships, professional and business training, and leisure courses.[1]

Facilities[]

On 17 August 2020, New College merged with Swindon College.[2] Both campuses are a short distance from Swindon’s town centre, railway station and central bus station.

Queens Drive Campus[]

The Queens Drive campus is just outside the town centre, near Coate Water Country Park. Facilities include:

  • The Phoenix Theatre
  • Specialist studios for media makeup, art, design, fashion and textiles; photography studio with darkroom
  • Recording studio with Live Room, Control Room and professional standard hardware and sequencing software
  • Two Dance studios
  • Sports Centre with sports hall, fitness suite and exercise studio
  • 3G pitch
  • Student Enrichment Centre
  • Restaurant, with six food outlets
  • Learning Resource Centre with quiet study space area
  • E-learning with very active Virtual Learning Environment (VLE)
  • Over 1500 computers including tablets, Apple computers, Windows PCs and netbooks
  • STEM facilities including nine modern science labs with state-of-the-art equipment.

North Star Campus[]

Formally the site of Swindon College, the North Star campus is in the centre of Swindon near the railway station. Facilities include:

  • Dedicated student enrichment area
  • Wellbeing Centre
  • Gym
  • Learning Development Centre
  • Purpose built construction centre with outdoor simulated construction site
  • Fully equipped industry-standard training workshops for automotive, engineering and construction
  • Bespoke facilities for animal care
  • The Academy, a commercial hair and beauty salon
  • A professional training restaurant, The Barista Coffee Shop and specialist teaching kitchens
  • Starbucks and Costa Coffee outlets
  • Large up-to-date computer suites.

Courses[]

New College is known for its range of courses offered, with almost 40 A Level subjects (including unusual options such as Ceramics, History (Tudors & Stuarts), Archaeology and Environmental Sciences) and a selection of vocational courses across Construction, Engineering, Vehicle Maintenance, Hospitality & Catering, Public Services, Hair & Beauty, Health Care & Childcare, Sport, Performing Arts and Art, Design & Photography. The College also offers a substantial number of programmes at Level 1 and 2 as well as part-time qualification, leisure courses and professional training for adults.

New College runs a football team, New College Academy F.C., which competes in the English football league system. There is also a Basketball Academy and a Cycling Performance Academy (established 2014).

University partnerships[]

New College Swindon has formed strategic partnerships with the University of Gloucestershire,[3] Oxford Brookes University[4] and Bath Spa University to offer a range of foundation degrees and degrees.[5]

Notable alumni[]

Former and current sporting alumni include Shelley Rudman (skeleton bob), Laura Halford (rhythmic gymnastics), Debbie Palmer (speed skating and ice hockey), Jaime King (swimming), Jon Lewis (cricket), Matt O'Dowd (athletics), Louise Hunt (wheelchair tennis), and Anna Mayes (netball).

Alumni in other fields include the singer, rapper and songwriter known as S1mba.

Achievements[]

New College was assessed as being GOOD when last visited by Ofsted in November 2017.[6]

  • A Level pass rate of 98%, with over 41% of grades at A*A or B (Summer 2019)[7]
  • Number one for College Achievement rates amongst local colleges[7][8]
  • The top performing state school/college for A Level progress in Swindon and Cirencester (Jan 2020 performance tables)[7]
  • 6th out of 186 colleges for GCSE Maths progress (2017–18 data)
  • 9th out of 186 colleges for GCSE English Language Progress (2017–18 data)
  • 500+ students go on to University each year, including Oxbridge and Russell Group Universities

See also[]

  • Education in Swindon

References[]

  1. ^ "About the College - New College Swindon". www.newcollege.ac.uk. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
  2. ^ "Merger information - New College Swindon". www.newcollege.ac.uk. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
  3. ^ "UK academic partners". Knowledge Base. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
  4. ^ "Partner colleges". Oxford Brookes University. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
  5. ^ "University Partners - Higher Education". he.newcollege.ac.uk. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
  6. ^ enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk, Ofsted Communications Team (8 October 2020). "Find an inspection report and registered childcare". reports.ofsted.gov.uk. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
  7. ^ Jump up to: a b c "OFSTED awards and accreditation - New College Swindon". www.newcollege.ac.uk. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
  8. ^ "National achievement rates tables 2018 to 2019". GOV.UK. Retrieved 24 August 2021.

External links[]

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