West Somerset Community College
Encyclopedia
The West Somerset Community College (sometimes abbreviated to WSCC) is a fairly large comprehensive school
in Minehead
, Somerset
, England
. It provides education for students aged 13–16 (school years 9–11) in the main school and 16-18 (school years 12–13) in the sixth form
(West Somerset uses a three-tier school system). WSCC has had Technology College
status for several years, meaning the College receives additional funding. In June 2011, the school became an Academy.
The College recently gained a good Ofsted
report, which stated that the College had 'a significant number of outstanding features' and most were 'good'.
for Sixth Form students, Skills and Enterprise Centre which was opened in 2008 and a Large Farm unit where Students are taught agricultural skills.
All classrooms have digital projectors and some classrooms have interactive whiteboard
s with laptops and/or PCs
available for use by students. The computer system is a Microsoft network all controlled by active directory, each student and staff member having their own password protected area and access to email. Filtered Internet access
is deployed. Each computer uses the Microsoft operating system (XP) with applications software such as Microsoft Office 2003 and 2007. There are also specialised applications.
It also has a Skills and Enterprise building were the students can learn subjects like, Hair and Beauty, Hairdressing, Hospitality, Animal Care, Construction etc.
Comprehensive school
A comprehensive school is a state school that does not select its intake on the basis of academic achievement or aptitude. This is in contrast to the selective school system, where admission is restricted on the basis of a selection criteria. The term is commonly used in relation to the United...
in Minehead
Minehead
Minehead is a coastal town and civil parish in Somerset, England. It lies on the south bank of the Bristol Channel, north-west of the county town of Taunton, from the border with the county of Devon and in proximity of the Exmoor National Park...
, Somerset
Somerset
The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. It provides education for students aged 13–16 (school years 9–11) in the main school and 16-18 (school years 12–13) in the sixth form
Sixth form
In the education systems of England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, and of Commonwealth West Indian countries such as Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Belize, Jamaica and Malta, the sixth form is the final two years of secondary education, where students, usually sixteen to eighteen years of age,...
(West Somerset uses a three-tier school system). WSCC has had Technology College
Technology College
Technology College is a term used in the United Kingdom for a secondary specialist school that focuses on design and technology, mathematics and science. These were the first type of specialist schools, beginning in 1994. In 2008 there were 598 Technology Colleges in England, of which 12 also...
status for several years, meaning the College receives additional funding. In June 2011, the school became an Academy.
The College recently gained a good 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 ....
report, which stated that the College had 'a significant number of outstanding features' and most were 'good'.
Facilities
The school is housed in a number of buildings of various ages and condition. There are separate buildings for the Sixth Form block, common roomCommon room
The phrase common room is used especially in British and Canadian English to describe a type of shared lounge, most often found in dormitories, at universities, colleges, military bases, hospitals, rest homes, hostels, and even minimum-security prisons. It is generally connected to several...
for Sixth Form students, Skills and Enterprise Centre which was opened in 2008 and a Large Farm unit where Students are taught agricultural skills.
All classrooms have digital projectors and some classrooms have interactive whiteboard
Interactive whiteboard
An interactive whiteboard , is a large interactive display that connects to a computer and projector. A projector projects the computer's desktop onto the board's surface where users control the computer using a pen, finger, stylus, or other device...
s with laptops and/or PCs
Personal computer
A personal computer is any general-purpose computer whose size, capabilities, and original sales price make it useful for individuals, and which is intended to be operated directly by an end-user with no intervening computer operator...
available for use by students. The computer system is a Microsoft network all controlled by active directory, each student and staff member having their own password protected area and access to email. Filtered Internet access
Content-control software
Content-control software, also known as censorware or web filtering software, is a term for software designed and optimized for controlling what content is permitted to a reader, especially when it is used to restrict material delivered over the Web...
is deployed. Each computer uses the Microsoft operating system (XP) with applications software such as Microsoft Office 2003 and 2007. There are also specialised applications.
It also has a Skills and Enterprise building were the students can learn subjects like, Hair and Beauty, Hairdressing, Hospitality, Animal Care, Construction etc.