ESSENTIAL facts on Blackburn College.

COLLEGE REPORT

Blackburn College exists to serve the educational, cultural, social and economic needs of the local community and to provide further and higher educational needs to a national and international clientele. We are dedicated to Lifelong Learning and work closely with Blackburn with Darwen to enhance learning opportunities throughout the Borough. The College is proud of its successes and all its students whether 16 or 96.

PRESENT STUDENTS

The College has over 25,000 enrolments, 90% of which are based at the town centre campus and the remainder at numerous outreach centres and a range of community based adult education centres. We have 1,000 advanced level full-time students and over 800 full-time higher education students. Our students study throughout the Borough and over 40 centres.

HISTORY LESSON

The College was founded in 1888 as the Technical College of the town and was opened by the Prince and Princess of Wales. In 1984 local sixth form provision to the college, helping to make it the 15th largest college in the country. In 1996 the College achieved the best inspection grades nationally. It has expanded steadily over the years culumlating with the purchase of Telecom House in Duke Street in 1993.

STAR STUDENTS

2001 was a magnifient year for many of our students with many achieving outstanding A level results.

OUT AND ABOUT

A wide range of facilities such sport, music and drama, and a media centre. The College has a Duke of Edinburgh Scheme, student trips and visits, a hair and beauty salon, a restaurant and numerous cafes. Over the years the College has many students who have represented the county and their country in an extensive range of sports. The annual College musical production draws audiences from all over the North West. We have produced a number of events at Blackburn.

SOMETHING TO BRAG ABOUT

The College gained Accredited Status in March 2001 and has the Charter Mark, and Investor in People. The College boasts the best learning facilities of any college in the North West. The College is proud of its reputation of widening participation for all. Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw, and the Bishop of Blackburn, the Rt Rev Alan Chesters are members of the College's Corporation Board.

WHAT ABOUT THE PARENTS?

The College is proud of its record of involving parents at every opportunity in supporting and guiding our younger students. Open evenings are held throughout the year and parents attend progress evenings in large numbers.

WHAT WOULD YOU DO WITH £100,000?

Introduce the Cyber cafe concept into our student refectories earlier than planned.