K College
 | |
| Established | 2010 |
|---|---|
| Type | Further Education, Higher Education |
| Interim Principal | Phil Frier |
| Location |
Ashford, Dover, Folkestone, Tonbridge and Royal Tunbridge Wells Kent England  Coordinates: 51°11′13″N 0°15′53″E / 51.186944°N 0.264722°E |
| Local authority | Kent County Council |
| DfE number | 886/8016 |
| DfE URN | 130727 Tables |
| Ofsted | Reports Pre-academy reports |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Ages | 16–99 |
| Patron | Lord Mayhew of Twysden |
| Website | College homepage |
K College was a college of Further Education (FE) and Higher Education (HE) with facilities across Kent, formed in April 2010, by the merger of South Kent College with West Kent College.
In the academic year beginning 2009, it had 25,290 students between its 6 campuses, at Jemmett Road and Henwood in Ashford, Dover, Folkestone, Tonbridge and Royal Tunbridge Wells.[1]
The Interim Principal was Phil Frier and the Patron was Lord Mayhew of Twysden.
Due to the large amount of debt sustained by K College, it was split into two units from 1 August 2014:
- Hadlow College Group has taken over the Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells campuses as "West Kent College" and Ashford campus as "Ashford College".
- East Kent College has taken over Folkestone and Dover.[2][3]
Most staff at the Folkestone & Dover campuses were transferred under TUPE to East Kent College.
Staff based at Ashford, Tonbridge & Tunbridge Wells remained with K College and were based at either West Kent College or Ashford College from 1 August.
In July 2014 prior to Hadlow College managing Ashford, Tonbridge & Tunbridge Wells campuses K College announced that there would be up to 127 redundancies of those not TUPEd to East Kent College. [4]
In comparison, East Kent College have recruited at least 40 extra staff since taking over the Folkestone & Dover campuses. [5]
Courses
Higher Education courses are offered in conjunction with the College’s partner universities: Canterbury Christ Church University, University of Greenwich and University of Kent.[1]
The main campus in Tonbridge teaches a large number of A-level and vocational courses including apprenticeships. It also runs teacher training courses, TUC courses and has a Professional Development Centre. It has additional teaching courses on deaf issues and a dyslexia unit.
Additional centres
The college runs a construction-orientated teaching centre based at the Construction Crafts & Engineering Centre on Kingstanding Way, North Farm Industrial Estate in Tunbridge Wells.
Student Union
The West Kent College Student Association was rebranded as K College Student Union. The main rebrand involved developing a new logo, changing its name and initiating a consultation on its constitution. It consisted of a President, Vice-President, Communications Officer and 6 Union Officers, they have a mixed remit to cover all the facets of student representation. These have since split apart to cover each separate 'chain', but retain a similar democratic structure.
Notable alumni
- Mark Sargeant — chef
- Hazel Crowney — actress, model
- The Countess of Wessex (Sophie Helen, née Rhys-Jones)
- Marcus Dillistone — Royal premiered film director. Music Producer Athens 2004 Olympic Opening & Closing Ceremonies.
- Jilly Goolden — TV presenter & wine connoisseur[6]
See also
References
- 1 2 "K College Press Information". K College.
- ↑ http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-kent-21783224
- ↑ Private Eye no 1355 p31
- ↑ "Union up in arms after controversial K College announces 127 further redundancies". Kent & Sussex Courier.
- ↑ "Everything will be oK". KOS Media.
- ↑ "Conference Common Room - Volume 47 Number 1 (Spring 2010)" (PDF). John Catt Educational Ltd.
External links
- College homepage - Now re-directs to West Kent College home page