City of Westminster College
Encyclopedia
City of Westminster College is a further education
college located in the borough of Westminster
, central London
. The College has two centres located in Paddington
and Queen's Park. It also includes the Cockpit Theatre
, a fully operational studio theatre used for training and performances, and a range of outreach centres.
City of Westminster College provides around 250 full-time and part-time courses to over 7,000 students each year. Just over a fifth of students come from the local borough, with the remainder being drawn from across London and the south-east. Over 40 per cent of students speak English as an additional language and there are more than 50 first languages spoken across College campuses.
The Principal Keith Cowell - previously Deputy Principal of Croydon College
- joined City of Westminster College in November 2009. Stuart Taylor is Chair of Governors.
In its most recent inspection, Ofsted
rated the college as 'satisfactory' for overall effectiveness.
The College is associate partner of Middlesex University
and University of Westminster
. It is also part of Westminster Skillset Media Academy with University of Westminster, providing training in areas such as Sound Engineering and Digital Media. Its Financial Services Foundation Degree is in partnership with Open University
.
The College is a Founder College of the National Skills Academy for Creative & Cultural for its Performing Arts and Technical Theatre training.
Other courses include English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) and Personal Best (Olympic Volunteering Programme). Outreach programmes include construction, computer skills and art sessions offered to students who are or have been homeless. These are run in collaboration with West London Day Centre.
Campus in January 2011. The £102m seven-storey building replaces a 1960s construction in the same location.
Designed by Danish architects schmidt hammer lassen
, Paddington Green Campus has 24,000 square metres of floor space. It includes a large central atrium at the heart of the building, accessible green roof terraces and increased community access to features such as the Sarah Siddons
Theatre and public cafe overlooking St Mary's Gardens. Other facilities include a double-height Sport England-specification sports hall and specialist science labs and workshops. The campus features a mix of open-plan learning/meeting areas as well as more traditional classrooms.
City of Westminster College's Paddington Green Campus was among the winners of the RIBA
Awards for London 2011. It was also among the winners of the inaugural New London Awards.
Having previously inhabited a series of mostly Victorian buildings, the college moved to a purpose-built eight-storey site on Paddington Green in 1967, also changing its name to Paddington Technical College. Overlooking the Conservation Areas of St Mary's Gardens (a former churchyard) and Paddington Green, the building featured what were then high-specification facilities such as a bespoke vehicle workshop and rolling road.
In 1984 it became Paddington College to reflect the increasing variety of courses it offered and, when administration of the college passed from the Inner London Education Authority
(ILEA) to Westminster City Council
in 1990, it adopted its current name. On 1 April 1993 City of Westminster College became self-governing.
Past principals
Dr Ryan 1903-1914; Mr Cooke 1914-1929; F. H. Reid 1929-1939; Dr Robinson 1939-1947; A. T. Lindley 1948-1970; A. W. Thompson 1970-1975; S. F. Everiss 1975-1976; Margaret Rawlins 1976-1977; Alan Hutchinson 1977-1987; Janey Rees 1987-1990; Paul Bellamy 1991-2005; Robin Shreeve 2005-2009.
Further education
Further education is a term mainly used in connection with education in the United Kingdom and Ireland. It is post-compulsory education , that is distinct from the education offered in universities...
college located in the borough of Westminster
City of Westminster
The City of Westminster is a London borough occupying much of the central area of London, England, including most of the West End. It is located to the west of and adjoining the ancient City of London, directly to the east of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, and its southern boundary...
, central London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. The College has two centres located in Paddington
Paddington
Paddington is a district within the City of Westminster, in central London, England. Formerly a metropolitan borough, it was integrated with Westminster and Greater London in 1965...
and Queen's Park. It also includes the Cockpit Theatre
Cockpit Theatre (Marylebone)
The Cockpit Theatre is a Fringe Theatre in Marylebone, London. The Cockpit Theatre was designed by Edward Mendelsohn built in 1969-70 by the Inner London Education Authority as a community theatre and is notable as London's first purpose built Theatre In The Round, since the Great Fire of London...
, a fully operational studio theatre used for training and performances, and a range of outreach centres.
City of Westminster College provides around 250 full-time and part-time courses to over 7,000 students each year. Just over a fifth of students come from the local borough, with the remainder being drawn from across London and the south-east. Over 40 per cent of students speak English as an additional language and there are more than 50 first languages spoken across College campuses.
The Principal Keith Cowell - previously Deputy Principal of Croydon College
Croydon College
Croydon College, established in 1895, is a Further Education and Higher Education institution in the London Borough of Croydon.Located in East Croydon, it is made up of a Further Education College and a Higher Education College.- Further Education :...
- joined City of Westminster College in November 2009. Stuart Taylor is Chair of Governors.
In its most recent inspection, Ofsted
Ofsted
The Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills is the non-ministerial government department of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools In England ....
rated the college as 'satisfactory' for overall effectiveness.
Courses and specialisms
The College offers a broad mix of vocational and academic courses, including BTEC, City & Guilds and NVQ qualifications, GCSEs and A levels. It also provides a smaller range of higher education courses such as Foundation and Batchelor of Science Degrees and HNCs. College specialities include Sport, Digital Media, Construction, Engineering and Science.The College is associate partner of Middlesex University
Middlesex University
Middlesex University is a university in north London, England. It is located in the historic county boundaries of Middlesex from which it takes its name. It is one of the post-1992 universities and is a member of Million+ working group...
and University of Westminster
University of Westminster
The University of Westminster is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom. Its origins go back to the foundation of the Royal Polytechnic Institution in 1838, and it was awarded university status in 1992.The university's headquarters and original campus are based on Regent...
. It is also part of Westminster Skillset Media Academy with University of Westminster, providing training in areas such as Sound Engineering and Digital Media. Its Financial Services Foundation Degree is in partnership with Open University
Open University
The Open University is a distance learning and research university founded by Royal Charter in the United Kingdom...
.
The College is a Founder College of the National Skills Academy for Creative & Cultural for its Performing Arts and Technical Theatre training.
Other courses include English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) and Personal Best (Olympic Volunteering Programme). Outreach programmes include construction, computer skills and art sessions offered to students who are or have been homeless. These are run in collaboration with West London Day Centre.
New main campus for City of Westminster College
City of Westminster College opened its new Paddington GreenPaddington Green conservation area
Paddington Green conservation area is a green space and geographic location in Westminster located off Edgware Road and adjacent to Westway. It is the oldest part of Paddington and became a separate conservation area in 1988, having previously formed part of Maida Vale conservation area...
Campus in January 2011. The £102m seven-storey building replaces a 1960s construction in the same location.
Designed by Danish architects schmidt hammer lassen
Schmidt hammer lassen
Schmidt hammer lassen architects is an international architectural practice founded in 1986 in Aarhus, Denmark. It currently has four offices in Aarhus, Copenhagen, Oslo and London....
, Paddington Green Campus has 24,000 square metres of floor space. It includes a large central atrium at the heart of the building, accessible green roof terraces and increased community access to features such as the Sarah Siddons
Sarah Siddons
Sarah Siddons was a Welsh actress, the best-known tragedienne of the 18th century. She was the elder sister of John Philip Kemble, Charles Kemble, Stephen Kemble, Ann Hatton and Elizabeth Whitlock, and the aunt of Fanny Kemble. She was most famous for her portrayal of the Shakespearean character,...
Theatre and public cafe overlooking St Mary's Gardens. Other facilities include a double-height Sport England-specification sports hall and specialist science labs and workshops. The campus features a mix of open-plan learning/meeting areas as well as more traditional classrooms.
City of Westminster College's Paddington Green Campus was among the winners of the RIBA
Riba
Riba means one of the senses of "usury" . Riba is forbidden in Islamic economic jurisprudence fiqh and considered as a major sin...
Awards for London 2011. It was also among the winners of the inaugural New London Awards.
History and past principals
Originally established as Paddington Technical Institute, the college celebrated its centenary in 2004. The original Institute was opened in Saltram Crescent, W9 and early courses focused on vocational subjects such as building, commerce, dressmaking and engineering.Having previously inhabited a series of mostly Victorian buildings, the college moved to a purpose-built eight-storey site on Paddington Green in 1967, also changing its name to Paddington Technical College. Overlooking the Conservation Areas of St Mary's Gardens (a former churchyard) and Paddington Green, the building featured what were then high-specification facilities such as a bespoke vehicle workshop and rolling road.
In 1984 it became Paddington College to reflect the increasing variety of courses it offered and, when administration of the college passed from the Inner London Education Authority
Inner London Education Authority
The Inner London Education Authority was the education authority for the 12 inner London boroughs from 1965 until its abolition in 1990.-History:...
(ILEA) to Westminster City Council
Westminster City Council
Westminster City Council is the local authority for the City of Westminster in Greater London, England. It is a London borough council and is entitled to be known as a city council, which is a rare distinction in the United Kingdom. The city is divided into 20 wards, each electing three councillors...
in 1990, it adopted its current name. On 1 April 1993 City of Westminster College became self-governing.
Past principals
Dr Ryan 1903-1914; Mr Cooke 1914-1929; F. H. Reid 1929-1939; Dr Robinson 1939-1947; A. T. Lindley 1948-1970; A. W. Thompson 1970-1975; S. F. Everiss 1975-1976; Margaret Rawlins 1976-1977; Alan Hutchinson 1977-1987; Janey Rees 1987-1990; Paul Bellamy 1991-2005; Robin Shreeve 2005-2009.
External links
- City of Westminster College Official site.