Established 1888 Ofsted Reports Phone +44 1254 292929 Founded 1888 | DfE URN 130736 Tables Website www.blackburn.ac.uk Total enrollment 14,400 (2010) | |
Location Blackburn, Lancashire
England, United Kingdom Address Feilden St, Blackburn BB2 1LH, UK Similar Accrington and Rossend, Blackpool and The Fylde Col, Preston's College, Runshaw College, Burnley College Profiles | ||
Blackburn College is a further and higher education college in Blackburn, in the unitary authority of Blackburn with Darwen, Lancashire, England.
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Blackburn College is the largest college with a university centre in England and attracts 3,000 Higher Education students and 3,200 students aged 16-19 Courses provided by the college include A-levels, NVQs and BTEC National Diplomas, and in conjunction with University Centre at Blackburn College, provides HNDs and degrees.
The University Centre at Blackburn College is an associate college of the University of Lancaster, which validates most of its degrees. The college applied to the Privy Council of the United Kingdom in 2011 for Foundation Degree Awarding Powers (FDAP), the decision of this application is expected in July 2016. The outcome of the FDAP application has been communicated to the governing body on 8th July, the FDAP application has been unsuccessful with an application fee, paid from public funds of over £50,000.
The current principal is Dr. Thomas Moore, replacing Ian Clinton, who announced his retirement from the college in February 2013. In December 2014, in the 2015 New Year Honours, he was awarded an OBE for his commitment and service to Blackburn College, and for transforming the college and local area. Ian Clinton has recently been employed on an interim basis at Stockport College, Stafford College and currently at Telford College of Arts and Technology in an attempt to resolve issues relating to performance and finance.
Mr. Clinton oversaw a giant expansion over a college in which he started in June 2004, taking over from his predecessor, Mrs. Sheena Ewing, who announced her retirement in February 2004, after starting as vice principal in 1991, then becoming principal in 1997.
In July 2013, it was announced the deputy principal, Mrs. Lisa O’Loughlin, was set to leave the college due to taking up a new post at The Manchester College, the large college in Europe. She started at the college in 1995, as a media lecturer. She then became deputy principal in 2008.
A number of senior staff from the College subsequently left to take up posts with The Manchester College including the vice principal, the head of finance and the head of MIS. In early 2016 the sudden resignation of the Chair of Governors prompted the appointment of the vice chair as the new chair of governors.
History
Blackburn College started as Blackburn Technical College, which was established in 1888 by public subscription. It originally specialised in engineering and textiles, later introducing tertiary courses, such as A–levels in 1984.
Locations
The main campus is located close to Blackburn town centre and consists of several buildings. The oldest is the Grade II listed Blackburn Technical School, built between 1888–1894; the building, situated at the centre of the campus, is now called the Victoria Building. Other buildings on the campus were built between the 1960s and 1980s.
The increase in higher education, in conjunction with the East Lancashire Institute of Higher Education, resulted in an expansion of the college into a former British Telecom office building in the 1990s. In January 2012, the building underwent extensive refurbishment, to turn it from small office spaces into premises more suitable for teaching. In addition to the main campus, the college has two smaller sites, The Saturn Centre in the Greenbank area.
Development
In the 2000s, four phases of construction were announced, as the college aims to modernise its campus, and increase the range of degrees offered.
The first was St Paul's Centre, with IT and sixth form facilities, which was completed in 2007 at a cost of £8.8 million, and was opened in September 2007 by John Sentamu. Phase 2, the University Centre, was completed in 2009, costing £14 million, and was opened in September 2009, by Labour MP Jack Straw and then–Blackburn Rovers manager Sam Allardyce.
Phase 3 of the re–development is the largest building in the entire programme, the £18.3 million Beacon Centre, opposite the Construction Centre on St. Paul's Street, which was completed in 2011, and was opened in February 2012, by chair of governors Sir Bill Taylor and The X Factor finalist Amelia Lily. It includes teaching spaces, for art and photography studios and IT suites, as well as a male and female multi faith prayer room.
In July 2012, demolition of the 1960s Feilden Street building, which housed the colleges Sixth Form until the St Paul's Centre in 2007, began (with a little help from Mark Felix), making room for Phase 4, as well as Phase 5. In September 2013, Phase 4 of the re–development, the STEM(MM) (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (Media and Music)) building opened, the Sir Bill Taylor Futures Centre, which is named after the long–running governor, and is placed next to the University Centre.
In September 2014, the college's new Regional Automotive Hub opened, and was officially opened in August 2014 by Carl Fogarty, and has had developed input from both Nissan and Škoda. The Regional Automotive Hub is Phase 5 of the colleges re development, and possibly one of the last buildings to be built, along with a new leisure centre, which was opened in March 2015 by Rebecca Adlington. Construction began in November 2013, and was completed in August 2014. It was originally set to open in September 2014, a month after the opening of the Regional Automotive Hub.
It is called Blackburn Sports & Leisure Centre, and includes a six lane pool, learner pool, two sports halls, gym, aerobics studio, wet/dry changing facilities, as well as a new coach drop off point. It replaces the 1980s Waves Water Fun Centre, opened by Princess Anne, which closed in February 2015, and was demolished during March 2016.
Reports
In January 2008, the college was rated as "outstanding" in an Ofsted report, which took place in November 2007. In September 2008, it was one of five colleges in the North West to be awarded Beacon status by the Quality Improvement Agency.