Reigate College

Curriculum

The college offers predominantly GCE AS/A level and BTEC two year courses, with provision for students to enrol on an Intermediate Programme (pre- A Level) and GCSE re-sit courses. The college works through these programmes in partnership with parents and has a tutorial and guidance system to help and encourage students. Progress is monitored and evaluated, with additional support and specialist help offered to those who need it.

Feeder Schools

Recruiting or drawing from up to 100 state and independent schools each year, the college serves as a dedicated sixth form to four partner schools: Oakwood School, Reigate School, The Warwick School and de Stafford School

Facilities

The college has undergone an extensive building programme and has opened a sports centre, refurbished theatre, new science labs, business centre, a visual arts block, a media and performing arts centre; a purpose built dance studio and, most recently, a dedicated enhancement building.

The college invests in IT and uses open source software such as moodle as well as other software solutions including Ranger; each student is issued with a college E-mail address.

Sport

Even if students have not chosen to study PE or Sport, there are opportunities to take part in competitive sport or individual or group activities.

The college sporting facilities include:

The college use local facilities for swimming, squash and tennis. Hockey takes place at East Grinstead Sports Club. Athletics usually takes place at Crawley Leisure Centre.

College teams play in local, county and national competitions in:

Reigate College belongs to British Colleges Sport, an association that organises tournaments, leagues and fixtures for Sixth Form and Tertiary Colleges, and gives students the opportunity to play for the South East Colleges and British Colleges in competitions.

The college activities programme caters for those who prefer recreational sport. Students can take part in self-defence, badminton, trampolining, archery and outdoor pursuits.

Performing Arts

There are facilities for film studies, media studies, music (split into A-Level, BTEC Performance and Music Technology), dance and drama. These include two performance spaces capable of housing large audiences. There are at least two major productions a year.

Full-scale productions have included:

There is a music festival in the summer, and Performing Arts students produce and perform their own shows.

Film Studies students recently visited Warner Bros Studios in Hertfordshire where they gained the opportunity to find out how the Harry Potter films were made.

Visual Arts

The Visual Arts Centre came into use in September 2002 and was formally opened by Dame Judi Dench in May 2003. It provides accommodation for Art, Photography, Graphic Design and Art History.

Facilities include studios, darkrooms, and IT suites.

Information Technology

Courses are available for all students who wish to take a formal qualification and there are specialist support staff available in the Independent Learning Centre to give guidance.

There are approximately 1600 computers - both PCs and Apple Macs - available for student use. About 180 are located in Independent Learning Centres and other free access areas.

The Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) provides interactive learning materials for use during lessons or for independent study. Students can access the VLE from anywhere via the internet. The VLE includes assessments and independent learning activities, all of which have been designed and developed by college teachers.

Independent Learning Centres (ILCs)

Students are expected to carry out individual study to build on what they have learned in lessons. There are two Independent Learning Centres (ILCs) and they exist to encourage and help develop independent learning skills.

The main Langham ILC is located on the first floor of the Langham Building, with wheelchair access by lift. It contains the library as well as a computer suite with 90 computers.

The Langham ILC is open from 08.15 to 17.00 everyday during the term for borrowing, browsing or private study, and during the college holidays.

The ILC Library is a Silent Study Area. It is equipped with individual study booths, providing a working space close to relevant materials. It holds fiction, non-fiction and reference books.

Students can find books using the OLIVER online library catalogue, which also tells students whether the book is available or out on loan. The OLIVER software is available from all computers. The library stocks daily newspapers, weekly and monthly magazines, including periodicals in specific subject areas published for further education

Notable alumni