North Hertfordshire College

North Hertfordshire College
Established 1991 (by amalgamation)
Type College of further education
Principal and Chief Executive Matt Hamnett
Location Stevenage, Hitchin, Letchworth Garden City
Hertfordshire
England
Students 10,500 (full time); 25,500 (total)
Gender Mixed
Ages 14+
Website North Hertfordshire College

Coordinates: 51°53′49″N 0°12′00″W / 51.897°N 0.200°W / 51.897; -0.200

North Hertfordshire College ("NHC") is a further education and higher education college operating in Stevenage, Hitchin, and Letchworth Garden City. NHC was established on 1 April 1991,[1] through the amalgamation of Stevenage College, Hitchin College and Letchworth Technical College.

In June 2010, North Hertfordshire College underwent an OFSTED inspection and received a Grade 2 (Good) for overall effectiveness of provision, with Capacity to Improve recognised at Grade 1 (Outstanding). The OFSTED report found "Outcomes for learners", "Quality of teaching, learning and assessment" and "Effectiveness of leadership and management" were all at Grade 2, with "Leadership and management" at Grade 1. All subject areas also received a Grade 2.[2]

History

The college was established on 1 April 1991 when further education in Hertfordshire was reorganised.[1] One of the institutions merged into the new college was Hitchin College of Further Education.[3]

About the College

The College has been accredited with Investors in People Gold Award in 2012 and 2014. The College has also achieved Centre of Vocational Excellence (CoVE) status in Management in 2002, and CoVE status in Sports & Fitness Coaching in 2006. The College has achieved the Customer First Award at the Goldsmith Centre.

In 2013, the College went through further restructuring, becoming a sponsor for The Thomas Alleyne Academy in Stevenage, The Da Vinci Studio School for Science and Engineering, and The Da Vinci Studio School for Creative Enterprise. This new collaboration, known as The Renaissance Group, is intended to improve the A-level courses available across North Hertfordshire by combining resources and facilities. In addition, The Da Vinci Studio Schools offer specialist subjects in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths, and the Creative Arts, at GCSE and A-level.

Campuses and Facilities

The College has two campuses in Stevenage, two in Hitchin, and a management centre and administrative centre in Letchworth Garden City.

Stevenage Centre

The Stevenage Centre, opened by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in 2003, is the largest campus and is home to learning childcare, GCSEs, Higher Education, health and social care, and science.

The centre is home to a creche, IT repair service and a retail outlet.

Stevenage Skills Centre

The Stevenage Skills Centre focuses on construction and building trade services, teaching courses such as carpentry, plumbing, electrical, brickwork, engineering, and painting and decorating. In 2011, the centre expanded with a new welding course offer which was officially opened by Skills Minister Matthew Hancock.[4]

The centre operates a motor vehicle service centre and a valeting centre.

Hitchin Centre

The Hitchin Centre focuses on the learning of business and enterprise, hair and beauty, sport, public services and tourism. The centre is currently undergoing extensive redevelopment to improve the learning facilities and expand the number of students learning at the centre.[5]

Enhance & Energise

Enhance and Energise Salon offers a hairdressing and beauty therapy service based at the Hitchin Centre. The salon is staffed by qualified and learning students, offering the chance to gain valuable work experience as part of their qualification.

Edge Sports Centre

The Edge Sports Centre offers sport and fitness facilities to students and the public, including basketball courts, fitness studios, dance studios, a gym, and an all weather 3G football pitch.

Music and the Performing Arts

Music industry courses including performance, levels 2 and 3 and instrument study to develop and achieve grades 6 to 8. Performing arts courses including acting, directing, script writing and musical theatre and diplomas in acting and production arts levels 2 and 3. Contains a 300-seat theatre the Da Vinci Hall for performances.

Centre for the Arts, Hitchin

North Hertfordshire College, Centre for the Arts

The Centre for the Arts delivers creative and cultural courses, including art, graphic design, photography, catering, fashion and visual merchandising. Students can gain exposure of their work by exhibiting at the in-house gallery, cinema or theatre. In May 2014 NHC announced their proposal to sell the land under the Centre for the Arts to be redeveloped to provide 89 homes. The money will be invested in developing a new creative campus in Letchworth.[6]

Indulge Restaurant

Indulge Restaurant is a student run contemporary restaurant. Under the direction of a head chef, students design menus as well as prepare and serve food and drink to customers, including a lunch menu and theme evenings throughout the year.

Notable alumni

NHC alumni include:

References

  1. 1 2 "FEFC Inspection Report 30/94 - North Hertfordshire College - Eastern Region - Inspected September 1993 – February 1994" (pdf). Further Education Funding Council. May 1994. Retrieved 8 February 2012.
  2. ↑ "OFSTED report". OFSTED.
  3. ↑ "Arts Council For North Hertfordshire". HertsDirect. Hertfordshire County Council. Retrieved 8 February 2012.
  4. ↑ "Welding". North Hertfordshire College. Stephen McPartland. Retrieved 1 July 2014.
  5. ↑ "Hitchin Centre Redevelopment" (PDF). Scott Brownrigg. North Herts District Council. Retrieved 1 July 2014.
  6. ↑ Tanna, Chandni. "North Hertfordshire College plans to sell Hitchin site for housing development". The Comet. Archant Community Media Ltd. Retrieved 6 January 2016.

External links

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