Education in Bristol

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Bristol is the largest city in South West England, and as such is a centre for culture, research and higher education in the region. The city is home to a prestigious "red brick university" (University of Bristol) and a high-ranking "new university" (University of the West of England). The city is also noted for its investment in the sciences and engineering, particularly its ties to the aerospace industry.

Contents

Compulsory education

Red Lodge. Redlodge.JPG
Red Lodge.

A reform school was set up in 1854 by Mary Carpenter, with the financial help of the poet Lord Byron's widow, at Bristol's Red Lodge. [1]

In 1838, the Violet Wills School, an approved school for girls, opened in Brunswick Square, and was later renamed the Bryanston House School. It closed in the 1940s to make way for a new road scheme. [2]

The city has 129 infant, junior and primary schools, [3] 17 secondary schools, [4] and three learning centres. After a section of north London, Bristol has England's second-highest number of private-school places. [5] Independent schools in the city include Clifton College, Clifton High School, Badminton School, Bristol Grammar School, Queen Elizabeth's Hospital (the only all-boys school) and the Redmaids' High School (founded in 1634 by John Whitson, which is England's oldest surviving girls' school). [6]

Further education

Sixth forms

Bristol has three main sixth forms, they are St. Brendan's Sixth Form College, North Bristol Post 16 Centre and Redcliffe Sixth Form Centre. St. Brendan's Campus is located in brislington [7] just off the main route through; Redcliffe Sixth Form is, however, located closer to the centre of Bristol, and is to the west of Bristol Temple Meads station and close to St Mary Redcliffe Church to the north. [8]

Colleges

The main Filton College building SGS Filton Campus.jpg
The main Filton College building

Bristol has two main colleges, they are City of Bristol College located on St George's Road, near College Green with smaller sites across the city; [9] and South Gloucestershire and Stroud College, which has a sites in Central Bristol, Stoke Gifford and Filton in South Gloucestershire. As well as multiple campuses in the Gloucestershire region. [10]

Higher education

Bristol has two major institutions of higher education: the University of Bristol, a "redbrick" chartered in 1909, and the University of the West of England (formerly Bristol Polytechnic), which received university status in 1992. The University of Law also has a campus in the city. [11] Bristol has two further education institutions (City of Bristol College and South Gloucestershire and Stroud College) and three theological colleges: Trinity College, Wesley College and Bristol Baptist College.

Bristol University, a member of the Russell Group, has 15,000 students, many who come from independent schools and middle-upper-class homes. Its particular strengths lie in Mathematics, Medicine, Engineering, Psychology, Economics, Biology, Chemistry, Management, Politics and Law. The University usually ranks in the top ten of British universities in newspaper league tables and was ranked 49th in the world in 2006, rising to 37th in the world in 2008 and again to 30th in 2013. [12]

The post-1992 UWE, previously known as Bristol Polytechnic, has around 35,000 students and 3,000 academic staff, UWE is the larger of the two universities in the city. 86% of students at UWE are from state schools.

In September 2008, the Bristol Institute of Modern Music opened as an offshoot of the Brighton Institute of Modern Music. BA (Hons) courses awarded by the institute are validated by the University of Sussex.

In September 2021, South Gloucesterhsire and Stroud College opened a University Centre at its WISE Campus in Bristol, offering degrees within the college’s SGS Sport and Bristol Institute of Performing Arts.

Science

In 2005 Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown named Bristol one of six English "science cities", [13] and a £300 million Bristol and Bath Science Park was planned at Emersons Green. [14] Research is conducted at the two universities, the Bristol Royal Infirmary and Southmead Hospital, and science is demonstrated at At-Bristol, the Bristol Zoo, the Bristol Festival of Nature and the CREATE Centre. [15]

As well as research at the two universities and Southmead Hospital, science education is important in the city, with At-Bristol, Bristol Zoo and Bristol Festival of Nature being prominent educational organisations.

The city has produced a number of scientists, including 19th-century chemist Humphry Davy [16] (who worked in Hotwells). Physicist Paul Dirac (from Bishopston) received the 1933 Nobel Prize for his contributions to quantum mechanics. [17] Cecil Frank Powell was the Melvill Wills Professor of Physics at the University of Bristol when he received the 1950 Nobel Prize for, among other discoveries, his photographic method of studying nuclear processes. Colin Pillinger [18] was the planetary scientist behind the Beagle 2 project, and neuropsychologist Richard Gregory founded the Exploratory (a hands-on science centre which was the predecessor of At-Bristol). [19] and is home to Adam Hart-Davis, presenter of various science related television programmes, and the psychologists Susan Blackmore, Richard Gregory, and Derren Brown.

Initiatives such as the Flying Start Challenge encourage an interest in science and engineering in Bristol secondary-school pupils; links with aerospace companies impart technical information and advance student understanding of design. [20] The Bloodhound SSC project to break the land speed record is based at the Bloodhound Technology Centre on the city's harbourside. [21]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bristol</span> City and county in England

Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, the most populous city in the region. Built around the River Avon, it is bordered by the ceremonial counties of Gloucestershire to the north and Somerset to the south. The county is the West of England combined authority area, this includes the Greater Bristol area and nearby places such as Bath.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gloucestershire</span> County of England

Gloucestershire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is bordered by Herefordshire to the north-west, Worcestershire to the north, Warwickshire to the north-east, Oxfordshire to the east, Wiltshire to the south, Bristol and Somerset to the south-west, and the Welsh county of Monmouthshire to the west. The city of Gloucester is the largest settlement and the county town.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">University of the West of England</span> University in South Gloucestershire, UK

The University of the West of England is a public research university, located in and around Bristol, England, UK. With more than 36,000 students and 4,200 staff, it is the largest provider of higher education in the South West of England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Filton</span> Human settlement in England

Filton is a town and civil parish in South Gloucestershire, England, 6 miles (10 km) north of Bristol. Along with nearby Patchway and Bradley Stoke, Filton forms part of the Bristol urban area and has become an overflow settlement for the city. Filton Church dates back to the 12th century and is designated a Grade II listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">University of Gloucestershire</span> Public university in Gloucestershire, England

The University of Gloucestershire is a public university based in Gloucestershire, England. It is located over three campuses, two in Cheltenham and one in Gloucester. In March 2021, the university purchased the former Debenhams store in Gloucester City Centre, with a new campus due to open there in 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">City of Bristol College</span> Further education school in Bristol, England

City of Bristol College is a further education and higher education college in Bristol, England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South Gloucestershire and Stroud College</span> Further education college in Bristol, England

South Gloucestershire and Stroud College, also known as SGS College, is a college of further education and higher education based in South Gloucestershire and Stroud, England. It was established in February 2012 following the merger of Filton College and Stroud College. The college is made up of six campuses located in and around Bristol, North Bristol, South Gloucestershire and Stroud. In 2021, the college launched a University Centre at its WISE campus after being awarded university centre status by the Department for Education.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Brendan's Sixth Form College</span> Sixth form, college in Brislington, Bristol, England

St Brendan's is a state funded sixth form college located in Brislington, Bristol, England. Over 1700 students study A-levels, BTECs & GCSEs on one purpose-built, university style campus.

The city of Bristol, England, is divided into many areas, which often overlap or have non-fixed borders. These include Parliamentary constituencies, council wards and unofficial neighbourhoods. There are no civil parishes in Bristol.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Weston College</span> College in England

Weston College of Further and Higher Education is a general college of further and higher education in Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, England. It provides education and vocational training from age 14 to adult. The college provided education to approximately 30,000 enrolled learners. It is regarded as one of the top FE colleges in the UK, often winning high profile national awards. The college is part of the 9th largest college group in the UK.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Berkeley nuclear power station</span> Decommissioned nuclear power plant in England

Berkeley nuclear power station is a former Magnox nuclear power station situated on the bank of the River Severn in Gloucestershire, England. The ongoing decommissioning process is being managed by Nuclear Decommissioning Authority subsidiary Magnox Ltd.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sport in Bristol</span> Overview of sports traditions and activities in Bristol, England, United Kingdom

Bristol has a number of notable professional sports teams and a large number of active amateur sports clubs. There are also large numbers of participants in individual sports. The city has two Football League clubs: Bristol City F.C., who play in the second tier, and Bristol Rovers F.C., who play in the third tier. Gloucestershire County Cricket Club has its headquarters in the city. Bristol Bears are currently in Premiership Rugby.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gloucestershire Rugby Football Union</span> Rugby team

The Gloucestershire Rugby Football Union is the union responsible for rugby union in the county of Gloucestershire, England and is one of the constituent bodies of the national Rugby Football Union. Formed in 1878, it has won the county championship on numerous occasions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blackberry Hill Hospital</span> Hospital in Bristol, United Kingdom

Blackberry Hill Hospital is an NHS psychiatric hospital in Fishponds, Bristol, England, specialising in forensic mental health services, operated by the Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust. The hospital also offers drug and alcohol rehabilitation inpatient services, and is the base for a number of community mental health teams.

Healthcare in the city of Bristol, England and the surrounding area is largely provided by the National Health Service (NHS). Until July 2022, this was provided through the Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire clinical commissioning group. Facilities include a large teaching hospital – Bristol Royal Infirmary – which offers nationally commissioned specialist cardiac, cancer and children's services from its city-centre campus to patients in the southwest of England and beyond.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wessex Bus</span> Bus operator in the West of England

Wessex Bus was a bus operator in the West of England that operated from June 2007 until September 2018.

Gloucester Premier is an English rugby union league which sits at the eighth level of league rugby union in England with teams largely being based in the county of Gloucestershire and Bristol. Originally a single division called Gloucestershire/Somerset, in 2000 the division split into two county leagues called Gloucester Premier and Somerset Premier.

Gloucester 1 is an English rugby union league which sits at the ninth level of league rugby union in England for teams based primarily in the county of Gloucestershire but also on occasion teams from Bristol. Promoted clubs move into Gloucester Premier and relegated clubs drop into either Gloucester 2 North or Gloucester 2 South depending on location. Each year clubs in this division also take part in the RFU Junior Vase - a level 9-12 national competition.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SGS Berkeley Green UTC</span> University technical college in England

SGS Berkeley Green UTC is a university technical college in Berkeley, Gloucestershire, England. It opened in September 2017, and is part of SGS Academy Trust. It specialises in engineering, cybersecurity and digital technologies, as well as STEM more broadly.

References

  1. ↑ Victorian Childhood: Themes and Variations. University of New York. 1987. ISBN   9780887065446 . Retrieved 16 September 2013.
  2. ↑ "Violet Wills School, Bristol". Childrens Homes.
  3. ↑ "List of primary schools in Bristol". Bristol City Council. Retrieved 27 January 2013.
  4. ↑ "List of secondary schools in Bristol". Bristol City Council. Retrieved 27 January 2013.
  5. ↑ Polly, Curtis (29 January 2008). "To have and have not". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 29 January 2008.
  6. ↑ "A Brief History". Redmaids' High School. Retrieved 27 September 2015.
  7. ↑ "Travelling to College". St Brendan's College. Retrieved 27 December 2015.
  8. ↑ "St Mary Redcliffe and Temple School". St Mary Redcliffe and Temple School. Retrieved 27 December 2015.
  9. ↑ "City of Bristol College". City of Bristol College. Retrieved 27 December 2015.
  10. ↑ "South Gloucestershire and Stroud College". South Gloucestershire and Stroud College. Retrieved 27 December 2015.
  11. ↑ "The College of Law". International Bar Association. Archived from the original on 1 February 2016. Retrieved 20 January 2013.
  12. ↑ QS World University Rankings 2013, QS Quacquarelli Symonds, retrieved 28 November 2015
  13. ↑ "UK designates six 'Science Cities' to spearhead economic growth". Times Higher Education. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
  14. ↑ "City science park partner named". BBC News. 20 April 2006. Retrieved 6 May 2007.
  15. ↑ "Create Centre". Bristol City Council. Archived from the original on 7 January 2012. Retrieved 27 January 2013.
  16. ↑ "Sir Humphry Davy (1778–1829)". BBC News. Retrieved 7 March 2009.
  17. ↑ "Dirac biography". www-groups.dcs.st-and.ac.uk. Retrieved 7 March 2009.
  18. ↑ "barnstormpr – The website of Professor Colin Pillinger, CBE FRS". colinpillinger.com. Archived from the original on 18 February 2012. Retrieved 27 January 2013.
  19. ↑ "Professor Richard Gregory on-line". richardgregory.org. Retrieved 7 March 2009.
  20. ↑ "Flying Start Challenge". flyingstartchallenge.co.uk. Retrieved 16 March 2009.
  21. ↑ "Bloodhound Diary". BBC. 19 March 2012. Retrieved 30 March 2012.
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