College of North West London
Encyclopedia
The College of North West London (CNWL) is a further education
college in North West London
offering a wide range of full time and part time courses, from beginner level to degree level.
Over 14,000 students aged 14 onwards study at two campuses in Willesden
, Wembley Park
, and a former site in Kilburn.
From 1893, the Willesden committee for technical education organized classes in Willesden town hall. In 1896 Middlesex County Council
bought the St. Lawrence institute in Priory Park Road, and by 1898 The Willesden Polytechnic was formed with 1,571 students. A new building was developed for the polytechnic, opening in 1904 on Glengall Road, Kilburn. As World War I
took it toll on the male working class population, the polytechnic offered a course in 1917 to women between the ages of 18 to 35 inlight woodwork for aeroplane components.
From 1932, Middlesex County Council undertook a large development in Willesden, and in 1934 split the polytechnic into Kilburn Polytechnic (on the original site), and the new Willesden College of Technology. By 1934, the original St. Lawrence Institute building had been demolished, and replaced by the present four-story block. By 1978 there were 1,400 full-time and 4,500 part-time enrolments.
Willesden College of Technology opened in Denzil Road in 1934, to provide the technical courses originally provided by the polytechnic, including the schools of art and building. In 1964 the college took over the buildings of Dudden Hill Lane school. The art school closed in 1959, and in 1969 the school of building amalgamated with other schools to form Sladebrook high school. There were 8,000 enrolments in 1978.
In 1991, the sites again merged to become the College of North West London.
s, through to Foundation
and full Academic Degrees
. On site facilities support both students and the community, through the Tower restaurant to the Student Union
.
The Business Division works closely with employers, and is a provider of the Train to Gain
programme, and a partner of the West London Lifelong Learning Network
.
on the Jubilee Line
. Courses range from Access courses (entry to university), BTEC
Diplomas and Certificates and GCSEs to Foundation degrees and higher education
qualifications.
The new Telford building was opened officially in March 2009 by Lord Young
of the Government’s Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills
. It provides high quality training facilities for the Faculty of Technology.
. The Tower Restaurant and the salon, which are open to the general public, are both based at this centre.
additions in the 1930s with the development of Kilburn Polytechnic. A brand new £5 million college centre was opened in Priory Park Road, on 31 August 2007 by the then Mayor of London
Ken Livingstone
.
The Mayor told guests "To come here and see something as beautiful as this - it makes you want to do a course just to enjoy the building." He also added that "this college has been designed as a role model for what we want across London, which is to give people the opportunity to get in on the first rung of education and get the skills they want in life." Principal Vicki Fagg described the building as "architecturally stunning", while assistant principal Malcolm Rapier remarked: "It is a real statement for further education students and for Kilburn."
In May 2008, the centre won second prize in the RIBA / LSC Further Education Design Excellence Awards, with the judges complementing the College on its contribution to the regeneration of Kilburn.
In March 2010, the college announced that it would suspend operations at Kilburn from September 2010. In response, students set up a petition to keep the Kilburn Campus open.
Sarah Teather, MP for Brent East, condemned the decision to close the Kilburn Campus, describing it as a "body blow" to unemployed people in Brent. Ed Fordham, Lib Dem Parliamentary Candidate for Hampstead and Kilburn reacted by asking "why would you close this down unless you wanted to throw 100 years of education in Kilburn down the pan?"
It has also emerged that Councillor Ann John, the leader of Brent Council, voted as a member of the College Board of Governors to close the Kilburn campus. When questioned by the local press, she claimed that she had "a collective responsibility" and that "it won't close for good."
In November 2010, the local Times newspaper revealed that the college was planning to sell the Kilburn campus. A number of local councillors expressed their dismay at the decision and have pledged to continue the fight to save the campus.
qualifications and has close links with:
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 in North West London
North London
North London is the northern part of London, England. It is an imprecise description and the area it covers is defined differently for a range of purposes. Common to these definitions is that it includes districts located north of the River Thames and is used in comparison with South...
offering a wide range of full time and part time courses, from beginner level to degree level.
Over 14,000 students aged 14 onwards study at two campuses in Willesden
Willesden
Willesden is an area in North West London which forms part of the London Borough of Brent. It is situated 5 miles north west of Charing Cross...
, Wembley Park
Wembley Park
Wembley Park is an area of northwest London, UK. It is part of Wembley, and located in the London Borough of Brent. It includes Wembley Stadium, England's primary football stadium and a major sports and entertainment venue, and Wembley Arena, a concert venue...
, and a former site in Kilburn.
History
CNWL can trace it roots back to 1890, and the formation of Willesden Polytechnic, on the site of the current Kilburn campus.From 1893, the Willesden committee for technical education organized classes in Willesden town hall. In 1896 Middlesex County Council
Middlesex County Council
Middlesex County Council was the principal local government body in the administrative county of Middlesex from 1889 to 1965.The county council was created by the Local Government Act 1888, which also removed the most populous part of the county to constitute the County of London...
bought the St. Lawrence institute in Priory Park Road, and by 1898 The Willesden Polytechnic was formed with 1,571 students. A new building was developed for the polytechnic, opening in 1904 on Glengall Road, Kilburn. As World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
took it toll on the male working class population, the polytechnic offered a course in 1917 to women between the ages of 18 to 35 inlight woodwork for aeroplane components.
From 1932, Middlesex County Council undertook a large development in Willesden, and in 1934 split the polytechnic into Kilburn Polytechnic (on the original site), and the new Willesden College of Technology. By 1934, the original St. Lawrence Institute building had been demolished, and replaced by the present four-story block. By 1978 there were 1,400 full-time and 4,500 part-time enrolments.
Willesden College of Technology opened in Denzil Road in 1934, to provide the technical courses originally provided by the polytechnic, including the schools of art and building. In 1964 the college took over the buildings of Dudden Hill Lane school. The art school closed in 1959, and in 1969 the school of building amalgamated with other schools to form Sladebrook high school. There were 8,000 enrolments in 1978.
In 1991, the sites again merged to become the College of North West London.
Today
CNWL now offers a broad range of courses, from Apprenticeships and Access courseAccess course
The Access to Higher Education Diploma is a qualification which prepares students - usually mature students, although the minimum age to be able to study for an access diploma is actually nineteen - for study as an undergraduate at university...
s, through to Foundation
Foundation degree
The Foundation Degree is a vocational qualification introduced by the government of the United Kingdom in September 2001, which is available in England, Wales and Northern Ireland...
and full Academic Degrees
Academic degree
An academic degree is a position and title within a college or university that is usually awarded in recognition of the recipient having either satisfactorily completed a prescribed course of study or having conducted a scholarly endeavour deemed worthy of his or her admission to the degree...
. On site facilities support both students and the community, through the Tower restaurant to the Student Union
Student union
Student union may refer to:* Students' union, or student government in the U.S., a student organization at many colleges and universities dedicated to student governance...
.
The Business Division works closely with employers, and is a provider of the Train to Gain
Train to Gain
Train to Gain , is a UK government funded initiative to deliver vocational training to employed individuals in the UK, primarily those in the 25+ age band who do not already have a Full Level 2 Qualification, via the Skills Funding Agency, formerly the Learning and Skills Council...
programme, and a partner of the West London Lifelong Learning Network
West London Lifelong Learning Network
The West London Lifelong Learning Network is a government funded partnership.It aims to increase the number of vocational learners progressing to and through Higher Education using flexible learning, and respond to employers’ skills shortages....
.
Willesden campus
Developed in 1934 as the Willesden College of Technology, Willesden is the college's main centre and is situated in Dudden Hill Lane, five minutes' walk from Dollis Hill tube stationDollis Hill tube station
Dollis Hill tube station is a London Underground station at Dollis Hill near to Willesden and Harlesden. It is on the Jubilee Line, between Willesden Green and Neasden. Metropolitan Line trains pass the station, but do not stop. The station is about 25 minutes from central London in Travelcard Zone...
on the Jubilee Line
Jubilee Line
The Jubilee line is a line on the London Underground , in the United Kingdom. It was built in two major sections—initially to Charing Cross, in central London, and later extended, in 1999, to Stratford, in east London. The later stations are larger and have special safety features, both aspects...
. Courses range from Access courses (entry to university), BTEC
Business And Technology Education Council (BTEC)
The Business and Technology Education Council is the British body which awards vocational qualifications. Such qualifications are commonly referred to as "BTECs"....
Diplomas and Certificates and GCSEs to Foundation degrees and higher education
Higher education
Higher, post-secondary, tertiary, or third level education refers to the stage of learning that occurs at universities, academies, colleges, seminaries, and institutes of technology...
qualifications.
The new Telford building was opened officially in March 2009 by Lord Young
Anthony Young, Baron Young of Norwood Green
Anthony Ian Young, Baron Young of Norwood Green is a British politician and Labour Party life peer in the House of Lords....
of the Government’s Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills
Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills
The Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills was a UK government department created on 28 June 2007 to take over some of the functions of the Department of Education and Skills and of the Department of Trade and Industry. In June 2009 it was merged into the newly formed Department for...
. It provides high quality training facilities for the Faculty of Technology.
Wembley Park campus
This campus is now based at Arena house. Arena house is easy to access and is opposite Wembley Park tube stationWembley Park tube station
Wembley Park tube station is a London Underground station in Wembley Park, north west London. The station is served by the Underground's Metropolitan and Jubilee Lines and is in Travelcard Zone 4...
. The Tower Restaurant and the salon, which are open to the general public, are both based at this centre.
Kilburn campus
The original part of the site dates to 1890, with Art DecoArt Deco
Art deco , or deco, is an eclectic artistic and design style that began in Paris in the 1920s and flourished internationally throughout the 1930s, into the World War II era. The style influenced all areas of design, including architecture and interior design, industrial design, fashion and...
additions in the 1930s with the development of Kilburn Polytechnic. A brand new £5 million college centre was opened in Priory Park Road, on 31 August 2007 by the then Mayor of London
Mayor of London
The Mayor of London is an elected politician who, along with the London Assembly of 25 members, is accountable for the strategic government of Greater London. Conservative Boris Johnson has held the position since 4 May 2008...
Ken Livingstone
Ken Livingstone
Kenneth Robert "Ken" Livingstone is an English politician who is currently a member of the centrist to centre-left Labour Party...
.
The Mayor told guests "To come here and see something as beautiful as this - it makes you want to do a course just to enjoy the building." He also added that "this college has been designed as a role model for what we want across London, which is to give people the opportunity to get in on the first rung of education and get the skills they want in life." Principal Vicki Fagg described the building as "architecturally stunning", while assistant principal Malcolm Rapier remarked: "It is a real statement for further education students and for Kilburn."
In May 2008, the centre won second prize in the RIBA / LSC Further Education Design Excellence Awards, with the judges complementing the College on its contribution to the regeneration of Kilburn.
In March 2010, the college announced that it would suspend operations at Kilburn from September 2010. In response, students set up a petition to keep the Kilburn Campus open.
Sarah Teather, MP for Brent East, condemned the decision to close the Kilburn Campus, describing it as a "body blow" to unemployed people in Brent. Ed Fordham, Lib Dem Parliamentary Candidate for Hampstead and Kilburn reacted by asking "why would you close this down unless you wanted to throw 100 years of education in Kilburn down the pan?"
It has also emerged that Councillor Ann John, the leader of Brent Council, voted as a member of the College Board of Governors to close the Kilburn campus. When questioned by the local press, she claimed that she had "a collective responsibility" and that "it won't close for good."
In November 2010, the local Times newspaper revealed that the college was planning to sell the Kilburn campus. A number of local councillors expressed their dismay at the decision and have pledged to continue the fight to save the campus.
University links
The College of North West London runs a number of Higher EducationHigher education
Higher, post-secondary, tertiary, or third level education refers to the stage of learning that occurs at universities, academies, colleges, seminaries, and institutes of technology...
qualifications and has close links with:
- Middlesex UniversityMiddlesex UniversityMiddlesex 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...
- University of WestminsterUniversity of WestminsterThe 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...
- Reading University
- Thames Valley UniversityThames Valley UniversityThe University of West London is a public university based in London, United Kingdom, with campuses in Ealing and Brentford, London, and Reading, Berkshire....
- London South Bank UniversityLondon South Bank UniversityLondon South Bank University is a university in south London. With over 25,000 students and 1,700 staff, it is based in the London Borough of Southwark, near the South Bank of the River Thames, from which it takes its name...
- Writtle CollegeWrittle CollegeWrittle College is one of the largest land-based university colleges in the UK; it is also one of the oldest. Writtle, previously known as Writtle Agricultural College, is a Partner Institution of the University of Essex and teaches FE and HE programmes.- Writtle :The college has diversified over...
(a partner institution of the University of EssexUniversity of EssexThe University of Essex is a British campus university whose original and largest campus is near the town of Colchester, England. Established in 1963 and receiving its Royal Charter in 1965...
)
Alumni
- Albert AdomahAlbert AdomahAlbert Adomah is a Ghanaian professional footballer, who currently plays as a midfielder or left/right winger for Npower Chamionship club Bristol City in England, and the Ghana national team...
, English footballer for Barnet F.C - Nonso AnozieNonso AnozieNonso Anozie is a British actor who has appeared in several stage plays and four films to date.In the summer of 2002 he became the youngest person in history to play William Shakespeare's "King Lear" and won the Ian Charleson Award in 2005 for his performance as Othello.Anozie was hired in 2006 to...
, Actor - Stela Brinzeanu, Journalist
- James DegaleJames DeGaleHe is European super middleweight championJames Frederick DeGale MBE is an English boxer and Olympic gold medalist. He was born in Harlesden, London. He started amateur boxing at the Trojan club at the age of 10 before moving to Dale Youth boxing club...
MBE, Boxer & Olympic gold medalist - Robert Evans (politician)Robert Evans (politician)Robert John Emlyn Evans was a Member of the European Parliament for the Labour and Co-operative Parties, representing London from 1994–2009...
, MEP and Member of the Corporation of the College of North West London - Goran KosticGoran KosticGoran Kostić is a Bosnian actor who is based in the United Kingdom. In 2007, he played the Polish builder Erek in the BBC soap opera EastEnders.-Selected filmography:* Of Gods and Men * Captifs...
, Actor - Stuart PearceStuart PearceStuart Pearce OBE is an English football manager and former player. He is currently the manager of the England national under-21 team and the Great Britain and Northern Ireland Olympic football team...
MBE, England Under 21 football manager - Samuel RoukinSamuel RoukinSamuel Roukin is an English actor.Roukin was born in Southport, and currently lives in Kentish Town, North London. He displayed an interest in drama from an early age...
, Actor - Tommy NutterTommy NutterTommy Nutter , was a British tailor, famous for reinventing the Savile Row suit in the 1960s.Born in Barmouth, Merioneth, he was raised in Edgware, Middlesex, where his father owned a local High Street Cafe. After the family moved to Kilburn, Nutter and his brother David attended Willesden...
, fashion designer