Introduction
Guildford College is a large general further education college situated on the north side of the county town of Surrey, 30 miles south west of London. Following the merger in 2003, the College is now based on two main sites - Stoke Park Campus and Merrist Wood Campus - and has over 25,000 students aged from 14 to 93. Most are local people but we also attract international students from as many as 60 countries.
The individual needs of our students are at the heart of our provision and we have continued to increase our offer to the local community and employers, providing education in over 20 venues across Surrey and flexible delivery of work-based training.
We are making rapid progress in modernising our vocational education programmes to meet the requirements of the 21st century and to ensure that we equip our learners with the skills they need to compete in the local and regional job market, thus playing a vital role in the region's economic prosperity.
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About the College
Just a 5 minute bus ride from the centre of Guildford, we provide an
enormous range of courses to nearly 20,000 students leading to nearly
40,000 qualifications per year - including a number of national prizes.
We employ over 600 people in full and part-time academic and non-academic
roles. Against a backdrop of change in education and enormous financial
pressures, Guildford is making real headway in setting out to achieve
significant goals – and these are clearly visible to all.
The business of education is taken very seriously by Lynne Sedgmore,
our Principle and Chief Executive; her dynamic leadership has done much
to steer the college through choppy waters to many successes.
Our practical, lively, hands-on environment has been further bolstered
by the recent addition of new courses tailored to meet the needs of the
local economy. These include Hairdressing, Photography, Caring for Children,
Information and Communication Technology, Travel Industry Studies, Engineering
Operations and Construction.
We have been awarded kite mark status across 14 areas offering information,
advice or guidance, we have ‘Good Corporation’ status for
ethical business practice, IIP accreditation, and were recently ranked
16th out of 341 UCAS-listed colleges and universities for service and
prospectus delivery.
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Goals and Achievements
Through links forged with other FE Colleges in Surrey and the Surrey
Learning and Skills Council, as well as through lobbying of MPs, Government
Ministers and other VIPs on issues such as funding, Guildford College
has rightly adopted a strategy of keeping a firm eye on strategic initiatives
and direction.
A recent service review focused on the delivery and effectiveness of
communication, IT and information processes, and a strategic planning
session identified our priorities based on Government and local LSC strategies.
Ultimately this produced some 25 objectives for us to work towards during
the current academic year, and a Strategic Operating Plan.
Student voices are listened to as well. Over 40 students attended a conference
specifically to discuss views and suggestions for our future with the
College’s most senior staff. From this an Action Plan is developed
– and monitored by the students. Such focus is proving invaluable
in helping the college maintain its success and build on the achievements
of students and staff alike.
The College prides itself on matching the right qualification to the right student. In this context it has been very successful, with students from varying educational and social backgrounds and across the age range achieving high results individually and as groups.
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Economic Contribution
In the south of England Guildford is the only College to hold two independent CoVEs, the first to be awarded this status in Travel and Tourism and one of only two Centres in Accounting and Finance. We work closely with businesses and industry sectors to develop and provide programmes that meet the needs of the local and national market place. Our courses are vocationally focused and industry specific, enabling our students to develop the skills and knowledge they need to work in today's business world.
We provide hundreds of placement opportunities for students each year and are the largest provider of work-based learning courses in the area and an established provider of Apprenticeships and NVQs.
Guildford Corporate Services, our commercial training arm, provides a range of business advisory and support services to a wide range of organisations and individuals. GCS provides an interface between the college's academic and vocational knowledge and the business community.
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Success Through Partnership
…with schools who participate in the Increased Flexibility Programme, offering vocational learning to 14-16 year olds as an alternative to the established curriculum.
…with universities for our expanding undergraduate provision.
…with the community via local regional, education, community and business meetings and steering groups.
…with other countries helping over 1,500 students from 60 countries around the world to come to Guildford to study each year.
…with the rural economy. Merrist Wood is at the forefront of development helping to sustain and shape the future of the rural economy.
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Social Inclusion
It is important to us here at Guildford that we reach out to all areas
of the community, providing particular support for those at less of an
advantage than the majority where we can. We run a ‘Choices and
Decisions’ day to help young people with learning difficulties gain
an insight into employment; we provide specialist tutorials to students
with sensory loss; we provide ‘link’ tutors and provide help,
encouragement and practical support to those attending careers interviews,
giving work presentations or applying for Higher Education Courses.
We run an IT centre in central Guildford, free community centre classes
and have collaborated with charities, the Borough Council and Age Concern
to help Asian women over 60 improve their English and IT skills.
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The Culture and Working Experience
The broad range of teaching occurring throughout the College every day
makes for a hugely varied environment. But throughout the atmosphere is
one of lively and ambitious activity.
Unsurprisingly there is constant communication between staff and students.
This applies to non-teaching staff too as apart from providing many key
support services that impact on or interface with students in their day-to-day
lives, there is a natural social feel in-built as support staff are in
amongst students, not boxed off in a separate block.
There is a very strong sense of friendly, open camaraderie at Guildford,
one which everyone comes to lean on occasionally when the pressures of
education itself get a little trying! And a developing culture of management
performance is helping us plan for continuous improvement, target setting
and best value.
The benefits we provide are those one would expect within this sector;
the experience of working for an open, honourable and high performing
College, and contributing positively to the community at large can not
be equalled. We hope you’ll take time to learn more about us and
apply to come and work with us!
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