West Cheshire College
Encyclopedia
West Cheshire College is a vocational college in the North West of England
. It delivers learning to over 20,000 people at its two main campuses in Ellesmere Port
and Chester
as well as in workplaces and community venues.
Courses offered cover the following areas:
The College also offers Access to Higher Education courses, Foundation Degrees (accredited by the University of Chester) and courses leading to recognised professional qualifications (such as CMI, CIPD, ILEX, AAT, IAB and ICM). The College has also launched a new range of Higher National Certificates and Diplomas (HNC/Ds) which will help students gain up to degree-level qualifications.
In addition, the College offers Apprenticeships across different job sectors including accountancy, active leisure and learning, beauty therapy, brickwork, construction, business administration, carpentry and joinery, cleaning and support services, contact centre, creative and digital media, customer service, engineering, hairdressing, health and social care, hospitality and catering, IT, painting and decorating, pharmacy, retail, supply chain management, vehicle maintenance and warehousing and storage. The College currently has over 500 Apprentices working within these job sectors.
West Cheshire College is the training delivery partner for the innovation Cheshire Oaks Retail Academy (CORA) delivering training for individuals as well as internationally recognised brands.
The College’s Business Solutions team also provides training to employers across the region providing bespoke training solutions. The College currently works with large multi-nationals such as Vauxhall, Unilever and Bank of America as well as SMEs throughout the region and was one of the first 26 providers in the UK to secure the Training Quality Standard (TQS). The College was recently reassessed in 2010 and has retained the quality standard. The Training Quality Standard is an assessment framework designed to recognise and celebrate the best organisations delivering training and development solutions. The College's Business Solutions team was recently presented with Unionlearn’s Quality Award for the success of their employer Apprenticeship programmes. Unionlearn is part of the TUC and works with TUC affiliate unions and employers on learning, skills and workforce development. The accolade, which is awarded to outstanding Apprenticeship programmes that meet Unionlearn’s high standards and work successfully and flexibly with unions, was presented to the team for their work with Aintree University Hospitals Trust in Liverpool.
Key points from the Ofsted report include:
From the formation of these societies further education in the area expanded rapidly with lectures taking place at The Grosvenor Museum in Chester from 1886. Demand forced lessons and workshops to be taught at a number of community centres throughout the area. This decentralised approach to Further Education lasted throughout the first half of the 20th century until the Handbridge
site was purchased in 1948 and plans for the Chester College of Further Education were officially drawn up. Since the official opening of the College buildings in 1963 it has developed and expanded with campuses at Blacon
and Greenbank being used from the 1980’s until 2001 and 2004 respectively. The Grange Centre was used from 1986. Capenhurst Technology Campus became part of West Cheshire College in 1999 when Engineering and Motor Vehicle departments were relocated from Handbridge
. The present West Cheshire College campuses are at Chester
and Ellesmere Port
.
The new building at the Handbridge, Chester site is a state-of-the-art science and technologies campus. Accommodation of circa 6,700 sq.metres it incorporates leading-edge facilities for a range of vocational areas including all forms of science, engineering, manufacturing, logistics, construction, cleaning services, computing, pharmacy and leadership and management. Key features in the new Campus include:
The new 19,500 sq metres creative and service industries Campus in Ellesmere Port, which opened its doors to students on 5 September, features:
Phase 2 of Ellesmere Port new buld will involve the creation of a new art and design wing in the College’s former vocational centre which will open spring 2012.
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 delivers learning to over 20,000 people at its two main campuses in Ellesmere Port
Ellesmere Port
Ellesmere Port is a large industrial town and port in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. It is situated on the south border of the Wirral Peninsula on the banks of the Manchester Ship Canal, which in turn gives access to the River...
and Chester
Chester
Chester is a city in Cheshire, England. Lying on the River Dee, close to the border with Wales, it is home to 77,040 inhabitants, and is the largest and most populous settlement of the wider unitary authority area of Cheshire West and Chester, which had a population of 328,100 according to the...
as well as in workplaces and community venues.
Courses
It offers full and part-time vocational courses in a range of subjects and disciplines to adults and 14 to 19 year olds.Courses offered cover the following areas:
- Art & Design
- Building & Construction Services
- Business
- Childcare
- Computing & IT
- Engineering & Motor Vehicle
- Fashion, Promotion & Retail
- Forensics, Applied & Medical Science
- Hairdressing, Beauty & Complementary Therapies
- Health and Social Care
- Hospitality and Catering
- Media & Games Development
- Performing Arts & Music
- Public Services
- Sport
- Travel and Tourism
The College also offers Access to Higher Education courses, Foundation Degrees (accredited by the University of Chester) and courses leading to recognised professional qualifications (such as CMI, CIPD, ILEX, AAT, IAB and ICM). The College has also launched a new range of Higher National Certificates and Diplomas (HNC/Ds) which will help students gain up to degree-level qualifications.
In addition, the College offers Apprenticeships across different job sectors including accountancy, active leisure and learning, beauty therapy, brickwork, construction, business administration, carpentry and joinery, cleaning and support services, contact centre, creative and digital media, customer service, engineering, hairdressing, health and social care, hospitality and catering, IT, painting and decorating, pharmacy, retail, supply chain management, vehicle maintenance and warehousing and storage. The College currently has over 500 Apprentices working within these job sectors.
West Cheshire College is the training delivery partner for the innovation Cheshire Oaks Retail Academy (CORA) delivering training for individuals as well as internationally recognised brands.
The College’s Business Solutions team also provides training to employers across the region providing bespoke training solutions. The College currently works with large multi-nationals such as Vauxhall, Unilever and Bank of America as well as SMEs throughout the region and was one of the first 26 providers in the UK to secure the Training Quality Standard (TQS). The College was recently reassessed in 2010 and has retained the quality standard. The Training Quality Standard is an assessment framework designed to recognise and celebrate the best organisations delivering training and development solutions. The College's Business Solutions team was recently presented with Unionlearn’s Quality Award for the success of their employer Apprenticeship programmes. Unionlearn is part of the TUC and works with TUC affiliate unions and employers on learning, skills and workforce development. The accolade, which is awarded to outstanding Apprenticeship programmes that meet Unionlearn’s high standards and work successfully and flexibly with unions, was presented to the team for their work with Aintree University Hospitals Trust in Liverpool.
Ofsted
In West Cheshire College's latest Ofsted report, the College was awarded 14 Outstanding grades including quality of provision, capacity to improve and for its overall effectiveness with employers.Key points from the Ofsted report include:
- 'Learners acquire good vocational skills that help them to secure employment or progress to Higher Education.'
- 'The College's focus on developing work skills and work readiness is extremely effective.'
- 'High priority is given to safe guarding learners and to promotion equality and diversity....A culture of respect and tolerance permeates the College.'
- 'Outstanding guidance and support are highly effective in raising learners' attainment.'
- 'Success rates on provision to employers are outstanding.'
- 'The College makes a significant contribution to the economic and social regeneration of the local area.'
Awards
- Unionlearn’s Quality Award 2011 - The College's Business Solutions team won a Quality Award for their outstanding Apprenticeship programme with Aintree University Hospitals Trust in Liverpool
- Waterways Renaissance Awards 2011 - West Cheshire College picked up an award in the Education and Learning category for the project ‘Learning is Fun', a partnership with the National Waterways Museum in Ellesmere Port
- Cheshire & Warrington Sports Partnership 2010 - Healthy and Active Workplace Award that recognises employer contribution towards improving and supporting employee health, physical activity and wellbeing.
- Association of Hairdressers and Therapists North West competition in Blackpool 2011 - Karen Morgan was awarded first place in First Year Blow Wave; Amy Jones came second in the Level 3 Cut and Blow; whilst Stephanie Cookson and Michelle Nottingham both achieved third place in the Level 3 Skills Challenge and Afro Caribbean categories respectively.
- National 2011 Professional Beauty competition, held at London ExCel - Natalie Dixon, 23 from Greasby and Laura Brown, 19 from Chester, were awarded first and second place respectively in the Tip and Overlay Novice Professional category, which is open to anyone with less than two years experience from all around the UK
- WorldSkills UK National Nail Technology 2011 competition, held at Cambridge Regional College - Natalie Dixon and Laura Brown, 19, came third and sixth respectively in the competition
- WorldSkills Visual Merchandising 2011 competition held at In-Store Show, Grand Hall Olympia in London - Lauren Ellam, 19, and Hollie Keirl, 20, won silver in their category
- Apprentice of the Year 2010 - 16 year old Todd Lowndes from Ellesmere Port won the National Apprenticeship Service Young Apprentice of the Year
- Beacon Awards 2009 - Hospitality and catering team achieved the Edge Award for Practical Teaching and Practical Learning
- Launch of the National Skills Academy (NSA) Retail Skills Shop 2009 - Cheshire Oaks Retail Academy (CORA), a unique retail training enterprise based in Ellesmere Port, was named one of the country’s first National Skills Academy’s Retail Skills Shops
- LSIS STAR Awards 2009 - The commercial services team were Highly Commended in the STAR Awards for Employer Engagement 2009
- CATS Awards 2009- Hospitality and catering student Nick Rushforth was named Most Promising Trainee in the Visitor Economy at this year’s prestigious CATS Awards
- HEIST Awards 2008/2009 - The College’s marketing team were awarded the Silver HEIST Award for their full-time prospectus 2008/2009
- North West Apprentice of the Year Awards 2008 - Wirral engineering student and Unilever employee Craig Robinson was named as North West Apprentice of the year by the LSC
Economic Impact Survey
In March 2008 research was undertaken by international leader in economic modelling, EMSI, on behalf of West Cheshire College. Key outcomes highlighted in the report highlight the impact the College has on the economy.History
West Cheshire College’s origins can be traced back to the early 19th Century when a number of scientific, literary and philosophical societies were formed in Chester to promote and encourage learning and the expansion of knowledge.From the formation of these societies further education in the area expanded rapidly with lectures taking place at The Grosvenor Museum in Chester from 1886. Demand forced lessons and workshops to be taught at a number of community centres throughout the area. This decentralised approach to Further Education lasted throughout the first half of the 20th century until the Handbridge
Handbridge
Handbridge is a district of Chester, England on the south bank of the River Dee. A settlement has existed on the site since the Iron age , but the site saw major expansion during the collapse of the Roman occupation of Britain, as the city grew too large for its walls...
site was purchased in 1948 and plans for the Chester College of Further Education were officially drawn up. Since the official opening of the College buildings in 1963 it has developed and expanded with campuses at Blacon
Blacon
Blacon is a large suburb near Chester, in Cheshire, England, containing a mixture of private homes and substantial public council-built properties...
and Greenbank being used from the 1980’s until 2001 and 2004 respectively. The Grange Centre was used from 1986. Capenhurst Technology Campus became part of West Cheshire College in 1999 when Engineering and Motor Vehicle departments were relocated from Handbridge
Handbridge
Handbridge is a district of Chester, England on the south bank of the River Dee. A settlement has existed on the site since the Iron age , but the site saw major expansion during the collapse of the Roman occupation of Britain, as the city grew too large for its walls...
. The present West Cheshire College campuses are at Chester
Chester
Chester is a city in Cheshire, England. Lying on the River Dee, close to the border with Wales, it is home to 77,040 inhabitants, and is the largest and most populous settlement of the wider unitary authority area of Cheshire West and Chester, which had a population of 328,100 according to the...
and Ellesmere Port
Ellesmere Port
Ellesmere Port is a large industrial town and port in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. It is situated on the south border of the Wirral Peninsula on the banks of the Manchester Ship Canal, which in turn gives access to the River...
.
New Build Development
West Cheshire College is currently undergoing a £65 million new build project with new developments in both Chester and Ellesmere Port. The new science and technologies Campus in Chester opened March 2011 and Phase 1 of the new Ellesmere Port creative and services industries Campus opened in September 2011. Both developments aim to bring world-class vocational facilities and training to the region making students work-ready and employable.The new building at the Handbridge, Chester site is a state-of-the-art science and technologies campus. Accommodation of circa 6,700 sq.metres it incorporates leading-edge facilities for a range of vocational areas including all forms of science, engineering, manufacturing, logistics, construction, cleaning services, computing, pharmacy and leadership and management. Key features in the new Campus include:
- A ‘Project Court’ – a workspace for large-scale construction projects which replicates a real working environment and will revolutionise the way students learn
- A ‘Lean Manufacturing Area’ – a flexible learning space for commercial training and an area for full-time students and Apprenticeships to run real-life lean manufacturing production lines
- Other facilities include: advanced science laboratories, electronics and robotics facilities, forensics investigation area, painting and decorating bays, industry-leading motor vehicle workshops.
The new 19,500 sq metres creative and service industries Campus in Ellesmere Port, which opened its doors to students on 5 September, features:
- A 12,240 sq metres rotunda that stands 88 feet high (equivalent to six double decker buses stacked on top of each other) - featuring the Port Cafe and over 200 seats
- A 38-seater fine dining restaurant called The Dining Room which will serve fine British cuisine with a modern twist
- Modern kitchen facilities including a fine dining kitchen with industry standard equipment for à la carte service, a 16 station training kitchen, a separate pastry kitchen where students will make homemade bread and cakes for sale in the College’s catering outlets
- A new hairdressing salon run in partnership with leading hairdressers Francesco Group which will open six days a week
- A new beauty therapy room featuring 28 treatment beds and 4 private treatment rooms available for the public to book treatments
- A theatre with 150 retractable seats featuring a state-of-the-art studio with the latest lighting and sound equipment
- A 1,340 sq metres dance studio which will run adult classes as well as a new Junior Dance Academy for 8-15 year olds
- A replica aircraft cabin for travel and tourism students – complete with 54 airline seats, microwaves and refreshment trolleys
- A conference centre and business lounge for local businesses to hire for meetings, seminars or larger conferences
- SimMan® – a portable and advanced patient simulator with realistic anatomy and clinical functions will provide health and social care students with simulation-based education to challenge and test students clinical and decision-making skills during realistic patient care scenarios
- A control centre with ‘CIS’ style screens, computers and briefing rooms to set up emergency scenarios for police cadets and other public service students
- A fitness and anatomy lab for sports students as well as a new fitness suite which will open in March 2012
- A new one-way mirror to support students studying teacher training – tutors will be able to watch students via a one-way mirror and provide advice via a mike and ear-piece
- Learners will have access to a crèche which will be open for two hours in the morning and afternoon for up to 15 children at any one time
- A health and wellbeing centre with fully functioning treatment room run in conjunction with Western Cheshire Trust providing advice and guidance on sexual health, diet and health and relationship advice
- A day centre for community groups to use and a multi-faith prayer room
Phase 2 of Ellesmere Port new buld will involve the creation of a new art and design wing in the College’s former vocational centre which will open spring 2012.