Farnborough College of Technology
Encyclopedia
Farnborough College of Technology, often abbreviated to FCOT or FCT, is a college located in the town of Farnborough
, Hampshire
in the South East
of England. Although primarily a further education
college, Farnborough College of Technology also offers a range of higher education
courses, accredited by the University of Surrey
.
, based at Farnborough Airfield
. In 1944 this became an independent technical school
. In 1957, a separate college known as Farnborough Tech was established on an adjacent area of land. In 1960, the RAE Technical School merged with Farnborough Tech to form Farnborough College of Technology.
In 1967, engineering students from the college staged an elaborate hoax by placing six model flying saucer
s across southern England as a rag week stunt. The emergency and military services took them seriously for some hours. The hoax was only made public by The National Archives in 2011.
, The Gallery Restaurant, Body and Soul gym
, a 300 seat Theatre, a multi-camera
television studio
and two radio studios. The lattermost are used for 26 days in March each year to broadcast Echo 87.7, the college's commercial radio station which operates under an Restricted Service License. A second campus, Aldershot College on Holder Road in Aldershot
, opened in September 2005. It also provides vocational training, including trade skills such as carpentry
and plumbing
.
of the bands Genesis
and Mike + The Mechanics, as well as Diane Youdale
and Mark Griffin who appeared in the British
television series Gladiators as Jet and Trojan respectively. DJ Annie Mac
earned a Master's Degree in Radio at FCOT, before going on to have her own show on BBC Radio 1
. In an interview, she referred to her year in Farnborough as "the biggest culture-shock [she'd] ever experienced in [her] life".
Farnborough, Hampshire
-History:Name changes: Ferneberga ; Farnburghe, Farenberg ; Farnborowe, Fremborough, Fameborough .Tower Hill, Cove: There is substantial evidence...
, Hampshire
Hampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
in the South East
South East England
South East England is one of the nine official regions of England, designated in 1994 and adopted for statistical purposes in 1999. It consists of Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, East Sussex, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Kent, Oxfordshire, Surrey and West Sussex...
of England. Although primarily a further education
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, Farnborough College of Technology also offers a range of 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...
courses, accredited by the University of Surrey
University of Surrey
The University of Surrey is a university located within the county town of Guildford, Surrey in the South East of England. It received its charter on 9 September 1966, and was previously situated near Battersea Park in south-west London. The institution was known as Battersea College of Technology...
.
History
The roots of the college date back to 1913 when the War Office authorised classes to be held at the Royal Aircraft FactoryRoyal Aircraft Establishment
The Royal Aircraft Establishment , was a British research establishment, known by several different names during its history, that eventually came under the aegis of the UK Ministry of Defence , before finally losing its identity in mergers with other institutions.The first site was at Farnborough...
, based at Farnborough Airfield
Farnborough Airfield
Farnborough Airport or TAG London Farnborough Airport is an airport situated in Farnborough, Rushmoor, Hampshire, England...
. In 1944 this became an independent technical school
Technical school
Technical school is a general term used for two-year college which provide mostly employment-preparation skills for trained labor, such as welding, culinary arts and office management.-Associations supporting technical schools:...
. In 1957, a separate college known as Farnborough Tech was established on an adjacent area of land. In 1960, the RAE Technical School merged with Farnborough Tech to form Farnborough College of Technology.
In 1967, engineering students from the college staged an elaborate hoax by placing six model flying saucer
Flying saucer
A flying saucer is a type of unidentified flying object sometimes believed to be of alien origin with a disc or saucer-shaped body, usually described as silver or metallic, occasionally reported as covered with running lights or surrounded with a glowing light, hovering or moving rapidly either...
s across southern England as a rag week stunt. The emergency and military services took them seriously for some hours. The hoax was only made public by The National Archives in 2011.
Facilities
The main campus at Boundary Road, Farnborough provides vocational training and education. Specialist training facilities include Concept hair and beauty salonBeauty salon
A beauty salon or beauty parlor is an establishment dealing with cosmetic treatments for men and women...
, The Gallery Restaurant, Body and Soul gym
Gym
The word γυμνάσιον was used in Ancient Greece, that mean a locality for both physical and intellectual education of young men...
, a 300 seat Theatre, a multi-camera
Multiple-camera setup
The multiple-camera setup, multiple-camera mode of production, or multicam is a method of filmmaking and video production. Several cameras—either film or professional video cameras—are employed on the set and simultaneously record or broadcast a scene...
television studio
Television studio
A television studio is an installation in which a video productions take place, either for the recording of live television to video tape, or for the acquisition of raw footage for post-production. The design of a studio is similar to, and derived from, movie studios, with a few amendments for the...
and two radio studios. The lattermost are used for 26 days in March each year to broadcast Echo 87.7, the college's commercial radio station which operates under an Restricted Service License. A second campus, Aldershot College on Holder Road in Aldershot
Aldershot
Aldershot is a town in the English county of Hampshire, located on heathland about southwest of London. The town is administered by Rushmoor Borough Council...
, opened in September 2005. It also provides vocational training, including trade skills such as carpentry
Carpentry
A carpenter is a skilled craftsperson who works with timber to construct, install and maintain buildings, furniture, and other objects. The work, known as carpentry, may involve manual labor and work outdoors....
and plumbing
Plumbing
Plumbing is the system of pipes and drains installed in a building for the distribution of potable drinking water and the removal of waterborne wastes, and the skilled trade of working with pipes, tubing and plumbing fixtures in such systems. A plumber is someone who installs or repairs piping...
.
Structure
The academic activities of the college are divided into the following six schools:- Applied & Health Sciences
- Community Education & Training
- Construction
- Education & Humanities
- Engineering
- Hampshire Business School
- Media & Creative Arts
Notable alumni
Former students of the college include musician Mike RutherfordMike Rutherford
Michael John Cleote Crawford Rutherford is an English musician. He is a founding member of Genesis, initially as a bassist and backup vocalist. In later incarnations of Genesis, he assumed the role of lead guitarist. He is one of only two constant members in Genesis . He also fronts Mike + The...
of the bands Genesis
Genesis (band)
Genesis are an English rock band that formed in 1967. The band currently comprises the longest-tenured members Tony Banks , Mike Rutherford and Phil Collins . Past members Peter Gabriel , Steve Hackett and Anthony Phillips , also played major roles in the band in its early years...
and Mike + The Mechanics, as well as Diane Youdale
Diane Youdale
Diane Youdale , is an English television personality, who is best known for her role as "Jet" on the television series Gladiators.-Biography:...
and Mark Griffin who appeared in the British
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
television series Gladiators as Jet and Trojan respectively. DJ Annie Mac
Annie Mac
Annie Mac is an Irish DJ and television presenter who hosts an eponymous electronic dance music show on BBC Radio 1 in the United Kingdom which airs at 7:00 pm on Friday evenings as well as a Sunday evening show alongside co-presenter Nick Grimshaw.-Personal life:Annie Mac was born in Dublin,...
earned a Master's Degree in Radio at FCOT, before going on to have her own show on BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
. In an interview, she referred to her year in Farnborough as "the biggest culture-shock [she'd] ever experienced in [her] life".
External links
- Farnborough College of Technology official website.
- Farnborough College of Technology overview at Hotcourses.
- Farnborough College of Technology in the 2008 league tables.