| Bedford College | |
|---|---|
 Logo of the college | |
| Address | |
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Cauldwell Street , , MK42 9AH England | |
| Information | |
| Type | Further education |
| Established | 19 June 1959 |
| Department for Education URN | 130597 Tables |
| Head teacher | Ian Pryce |
| Gender | Coeducational |
| Website | www |
Bedford College is a further education college located in Bedford, Bedfordshire, England. It is the principal further education provider in the Borough of Bedford, and is a member of the Collab Group of high performing schools. [1]
Further Education courses have been provided on Bedford College's Cauldwell Street campus under some name since World War II, although its roots can be traced to the founding of Bedford Training College for Teachers in 1882. [2] Following construction of the college's six-storey tower block, opened on 19 June 1959, the college became known as Mander College of Further Education. The college was named after Sir Frederick Mander, who was Chairman of Bedfordshire County Council at the time of the tower's construction. The tower was erected at a cost of £282,510, plus £4,085 for external works. [3]
In 1976 the college combined with two teacher training institutions to form the split-site Bedford College of Higher Education . The college remained in this form until 1992, when Further Education colleges achieved independent status from local education authorities. Bedford College was formed as a Further Education Institute to concentrate on provision within this sector, remaining at the Cauldwell Street campus. The Higher Education areas of the college separated in 1994 to become the Bedford campus of the De Montfort University, but later merged with the University of Luton to form the University of Bedfordshire. [2] Bedford College retains some Higher Education provision, and provides a number of foundation degrees and select teaching qualifications in association with the University of Bedfordshire. [4]
In January 2008 it was announced that Bedford College (with the Harpur Trust) intended to sponsor John Bunyan Upper School (a state comprehensive school in Bedford) thereby turning the school into an academy. This was confirmed by Bedfordshire County Council the following June. [5] Bedford Academy opened in September 2010.
In July 2009, the college was formally awarded Beacon Status by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. The status means that Bedford College has been recognised as one of the best further education colleges in the United Kingdom. [6]
In August 2009, it was announced that Shuttleworth College had become part of Bedford College. Shuttleworth College had previously been part of Writtle College. [7]
In September 2012, Bedford College leased the site of the former Bedford High School for a campus in the north of Bedford town centre. Bedford High School closed over the summer of 2012. The college bought the old main school buildings, Trinity Church, and the Sports and Performing Arts (SPA) complex from owners, the Harpur Trust in March 2014. [8] The Bedford Sixth Form occupies the campus (Bedford College's branding of its sixth form provision). The SPA complex became Trinity Arts & Leisure, managed by Bedford College Services Ltd.
In August 2017, Bedford College and Tresham College merged to become The Bedford College Group which includes Shuttleworth College, and The Bedford Sixth Form, as well as campuses in Wellingborough, Kettering and Corby. [9]
Bedford College offers a range of academic and vocational qualifications, apprenticeship, access to higher education courses, higher education qualifications and foundation education programmes. [10]
The areas of study include –
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The Bedford Sixth Form is a sixth form centre operated by Bedford College on the site of the former Bedford High School. Courses offered include GCSEs, A Levels and BTECs. [11]
Shuttleworth College located in Old Warden, Central Bedfordshire is operated by Bedford College. Shuttleworth College mainly provides courses and training related to agriculture and the natural environment.
Bedford College also operates four 'Learning Centres' located in the town centres of Bedford, Milton Keynes, Luton and Rushden which offer IT skills and courses.
Bedford College formed Bedford College Academies Trust in 2013. [12]
The Trust was the initial sponsor of Bedford Academy, located in the Kingsbrook area of Bedford, along with the Harpur Trust.
In April 2014, Bedford College became a new sponsor of UTC Central Bedfordshire in Houghton Regis, and worked on building a new centre for students with the highest levels of need. This was at the request of the Department for Education after the UTC failed an inspection. [13] However, the UTC closed in August 2016 after failing to attract a sufficient number of pupils. [14]
In October 2014, it was announced that Hastingsbury Business & Enterprise College at Kempston would convert to an academy in partnership with Bedford College. [15] The school was later renamed Kempston Academy, and after extending its lower age range in 2017 is now a secondary school. [16]
Today the trust is the sponsor of Wixams Academy and Wixams Tree Primary, both located in Wixams. [17]
Bedford is a market town in Bedfordshire, England. At the 2011 Census, the population of the Bedford built-up area was 106,940, making it the second-largest settlement in Bedfordshire, behind Luton, whilst the Borough of Bedford had a population of 157,479. Bedford is also the historic county town of Bedfordshire.
The Borough of Bedford is a unitary authority area with borough status in the ceremonial county of Bedfordshire, England. Its council is based in Bedford, its namesake and principal settlement, which is the county town of Bedfordshire. The borough contains one large urban area, the 71st largest in the United Kingdom that comprises Bedford and the adjacent town of Kempston, surrounded by a rural area with many villages. 75% of the borough's population live in the Bedford Urban Area and the five large villages which surround it, which makes up slightly less than 6% of the total land area of the Borough.
Kempston Academy is a mixed secondary school and sixth form located on Hill Rise in Kempston, Bedfordshire, England. The school forms part of an educational campus which also includes a Child Development Centre and Ridgeway School.
The University of Bedfordshire is a public research university with campuses in Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire, England. The University has roots from 1882, however, it gained university status in 1993 as the University of Luton. The University changed its name to the University of Bedfordshire in 2006 by the approval of the Privy Council, following the merger of the University of Luton and the Bedford campus of De Montfort University.
Biddenham International School and Sports College is a mixed secondary school and sixth form located in Biddenham in the English county of Bedfordshire.
Wixams is a new town and civil parish located in Bedfordshire, England, which has been under construction since early 2007. It is expected to become the third largest settlement in the Borough of Bedford after Bedford itself and Kempston, and one of the largest new settlements founded in England since the British new towns movement of the first twenty five years after World War II. Part of the site is also in Central Bedfordshire. At the 2011 Census the population of the new town was included in the civil parish of Wilstead.
Cauldwell is an electoral ward and area within the town of Bedford, England.
Harpur is an electoral ward and area within the town of Bedford, England.
Castle is an electoral ward and area of Bedford, Bedfordshire, England.
Bedford Academy is a mixed secondary school and sixth form located in the Kingsbrook area of Bedford, Bedfordshire, England.
Grange Academy is a coeducational special school located in Kempston, Bedfordshire, England. The school accepts pupils between the ages of 5 and 16 years with Moderate Learning Difficulties from all over the Borough of Bedford.
St John’s School and College is a mixed special school located in Kempston, Bedfordshire, England. The school educates pupils ages 2 to 19 from all over the Borough of Bedford.
Ridgeway School is a mixed special school for pupils with physical disabilities located in Kempston, Bedfordshire, England. The school accepts pupils from all over the Borough of Bedford.
Bedford Girls' School (BGS) is an independent school for girls which opened in September 2010 located in Bedford, in the English county of Bedfordshire. The school is a result of a merger of Bedford High School and Dame Alice Harpur School, and is operated by the Harpur Trust. The school became fully operational in September 2012.
Bedford Free School is a mixed secondary free school located in Bedford, Bedfordshire, England. The school opened in September 2012, and educates pupils from Bedford, Kempston and the wider Borough of Bedford. The school's roll grew yearly until it reached its 500 capacity of 11- to 16-year-olds. The school is now oversubscribed. The school is located on Cauldwell Street, Bedford.
UTC Central Bedfordshire was a University Technical College (UTC) in Houghton Regis, Bedfordshire, England. The college opened in September 2012 and specialised in education for future engineers, product and games designers. It closed in August 2016.
The Bedford Sixth Form is a state sixth form located in the centre of Bedford, Bedfordshire, England. It is the only institution in Bedford solely dedicated to sixth form choices. The institution offers a range of GCSEs, A-Levels and Technical Diplomas to 16- to 18-year-olds. The previous SPA complex is managed by Bedford College Services Ltd. trading as Trinity Arts & Leisure - a community facility consisting of a 25-metre six-lane swimming pool, gym and theatre used by local film club and acting groups.
Wixams Academy is a co-educational secondary school and sixth form located in Wixams in the English county of Bedfordshire.
