Tower Hamlets College
Encyclopedia
Tower Hamlets College is a large further education college in Tower Hamlets
, London
, England
. The college has four different campuses: the largest is on Poplar
High Street, about 700m north of Canary Wharf
; the others are at Arbour Square
, Bethnal Green
and the Financial Skills Academy on the East India Dock Road.
Tower Hamlets Sixth Form College offers vocational and academic programmes from entry level to AS
/A2
to around 2,000 students. It is located in the borough of Tower Hamlets, which is viewed as one of the poorest boroughs in London.
The largest ethnic group in the college is Bangladeshi
(predominantly Muslim
).
As of 2009/10 the college had a 18,986 enrolments, of which 66% were adult (19+). A large proportion of 16-19 year old students were from BME groups.
The Tower Hamlets College was featured in the book of The Islamist
by Ed Husain
. Ed Husain was a former president of the Islamic Society at the college and explains the growing Islamic fundamentalism
of Muslim students part of the Islamic Society during 1992.
The college, along with many education establishments in the UK, has struggled to adapt to the shift away from government funded education for all. Tower Hamlets College suffered significant strike action during key times in the academic calendar, 2009/2010/10, due to drastic cuts in staffing levels.
During the 2010/11 year, aside from swingeing cuts to some areas and problematic Ofsted
monitoring visit, the college has made positive progress. Staff at the college continue to innovate, engaging learners with enthusiastic approach to learning. Consistent and broad reaching staff development continues to engender an atmosphere of creativity among departments, with subtle reshuffles of curriculum areas and staff by Senior Management (Michael Farley and Gerry McDonald), to draw out the best from the huge number; over 500, of talented staff on hand.
The academic year 2011/12 sees increased competition from several local secondary schools: ignoring Mr Farley's suggestions of cooperation and offering sixth forms to some degree. With this increase in competition, as well as reduced central funding, it is well timed that the college develop it's technical vocational offer. Using state of the art facilities in-house to deliver a new range of courses, including apprenticeships, the college is drawing on excellent links with local industry to offer young people a future based on informed choice; where one can learn a trade and progress, alternatively follow a traditional BTEC/A-Level route to success.
Building on the success of the Financial Skills Academy and Employer Services - Tower Hamlets College use latest technology, inspirational events, close industry links and creative and resourceful staff to up-skill its learners. Through a wide range of courses aimed at securing employment in specifically (but not solely) the financial services sector, the college engages employers (KPMG, Citi, etc.) and local entrepreneurs to ensure the needs of the majority of this dynamic local population can be satisfied. In September 2011 the college launches the Thames Recruitment Service; an independent office/admin recruitment company based at East India Dock Road to support the employment aspirations of local residents.
For the latest 16-19 Prospectus.
London Borough of Tower Hamlets
The London Borough of Tower Hamlets is a London borough to the east of the City of London and north of the River Thames. It is in the eastern part of London and covers much of the traditional East End. It also includes much of the redeveloped Docklands region of London, including West India Docks...
, 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...
, 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...
. The college has four different campuses: the largest is on Poplar
Poplar, London
Poplar is a historic, mainly residential area of the East End of London in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. It is about east of Charing Cross. Historically a hamlet in the parish of Stepney, Middlesex, in 1817 Poplar became a civil parish. In 1855 the Poplar District of the Metropolis was...
High Street, about 700m north of Canary Wharf
Canary Wharf
Canary Wharf is a major business district located in London, United Kingdom. It is one of London's two main financial centres, alongside the traditional City of London, and contains many of the UK's tallest buildings, including the second-tallest , One Canada Square...
; the others are at Arbour Square
Arbour Square
Arbour Square is a late Georgian square in Stepney, in the borough of Tower Hamlets, east London, England.It is located just off the Commercial Road approximately one mile east of the City of London...
, Bethnal Green
Bethnal Green
Bethnal Green is a district of the East End of London, England and part of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, with the far northern parts falling within the London Borough of Hackney. Located northeast of Charing Cross, it was historically an agrarian hamlet in the ancient parish of Stepney,...
and the Financial Skills Academy on the East India Dock Road.
Tower Hamlets Sixth Form College offers vocational and academic programmes from entry level to AS
AS
AS may refer to:-Science and technology:* A. S. , a small French car in the 1920s* A.S. Design, a French car* A. S. , a Dutch truck made in the 1920s to 50s* AS One, a German-build, but Liechtenstein-based sportscar...
/A2
A2
A2 is a letter-number combination.The terms A2, A02, A002, A², A.II or A-2 may refer to:-Media:Gaming :* A2 Racer, a 1997 Dutch racing computer game series...
to around 2,000 students. It is located in the borough of Tower Hamlets, which is viewed as one of the poorest boroughs in London.
The largest ethnic group in the college is Bangladeshi
British Bangladeshi
A British Bangladeshi is a person of Bangladeshi origin who resides in the United Kingdom having emigrated to the UK and attained citizenship through naturalisation or whose parents did so; they are also known as British Bengalis...
(predominantly Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
).
As of 2009/10 the college had a 18,986 enrolments, of which 66% were adult (19+). A large proportion of 16-19 year old students were from BME groups.
The Tower Hamlets College was featured in the book of The Islamist
The Islamist
The Islamist: Why I Joined Radical Islam in Britain, What I Saw Inside and Why I Left, is a book about Ed Husain's five years as an Islamic fundamentalist. Husain became an Islamist at the age of sixteen, but rejected fundamentalist teaching and returned to normal life and his family...
by Ed Husain
Ed Husain
Mohammed Mahbub Husain is the author of The Islamist, a book about Islamic fundamentalism, and an account of his five years as an Islamist activist. Husain also helped to create, with Maajid Nawaz, the counter-extremism organisation the Quilliam Foundation. He is currently at senior fellow at the...
. Ed Husain was a former president of the Islamic Society at the college and explains the growing Islamic fundamentalism
Islamic fundamentalism
Islamic fundamentalism is a term used to describe religious ideologies seen as advocating a return to the "fundamentals" of Islam: the Quran and the Sunnah. Definitions of the term vary. According to Christine L...
of Muslim students part of the Islamic Society during 1992.
The college, along with many education establishments in the UK, has struggled to adapt to the shift away from government funded education for all. Tower Hamlets College suffered significant strike action during key times in the academic calendar, 2009/2010/10, due to drastic cuts in staffing levels.
During the 2010/11 year, aside from swingeing cuts to some areas and problematic 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 ....
monitoring visit, the college has made positive progress. Staff at the college continue to innovate, engaging learners with enthusiastic approach to learning. Consistent and broad reaching staff development continues to engender an atmosphere of creativity among departments, with subtle reshuffles of curriculum areas and staff by Senior Management (Michael Farley and Gerry McDonald), to draw out the best from the huge number; over 500, of talented staff on hand.
The academic year 2011/12 sees increased competition from several local secondary schools: ignoring Mr Farley's suggestions of cooperation and offering sixth forms to some degree. With this increase in competition, as well as reduced central funding, it is well timed that the college develop it's technical vocational offer. Using state of the art facilities in-house to deliver a new range of courses, including apprenticeships, the college is drawing on excellent links with local industry to offer young people a future based on informed choice; where one can learn a trade and progress, alternatively follow a traditional BTEC/A-Level route to success.
Building on the success of the Financial Skills Academy and Employer Services - Tower Hamlets College use latest technology, inspirational events, close industry links and creative and resourceful staff to up-skill its learners. Through a wide range of courses aimed at securing employment in specifically (but not solely) the financial services sector, the college engages employers (KPMG, Citi, etc.) and local entrepreneurs to ensure the needs of the majority of this dynamic local population can be satisfied. In September 2011 the college launches the Thames Recruitment Service; an independent office/admin recruitment company based at East India Dock Road to support the employment aspirations of local residents.
For the latest 16-19 Prospectus.
External links
- Tower Hamlets College Official site.
- National Skills Academy Financial Services London lead academy.
- Disabledgo website
- News from THC Art Dept
- Employer Services Competition 2011
- Success Stories from NSAFS
- UCU news
- Guardian Unlimited: Britain is teaching too few
- Guardian, July 2005: An exhibition of digital photographs by six students from Tower Hamlets College is now on display at the Chrisp Street Idea Store, E14
- Thames Recruitment