Barking and Dagenham College

Age: 50

History: Originally called Rush Green College, it had two separate sites which merged in 1993 and became independent of the local borough in 1997. Famous visitors to the college have included Dudley Moore, Rod Stewart, Tom Pickard and Gordon Brown.

Address: Romford, Essex. The college is located on the eastern boundary of the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham in Rush Green, north of the River Thames. It is a twenty minute walk from Romford town centre.

Ambience: A further education college serving and representing the local community with a wide range of vocational courses and training opportunities. The college is set within several acres of open, green space and includes a large playing field for sports and recreation.

Vital statistics: Around 11,00 students; 7,500 part-time. Much of the college's curriculum is vocational. Higher education courses include HNCs and HNDs, Foundation Degrees, and an MBA 'top up' degree in management.

Added value: Extensive individual learning support services such as one-on-one tuition to assist learners with reading, maths, dyslexia or mobility for example. The school of performing arts is located in the multi-million pound Broadway Theatre in the centre of Barking, which has a state-of-the-art 350-seat auditorium, specialist rehearsal rooms, a music technology studio and recording studio.

Easy to get into? It varies depending on the course and level applied for. Courses in plumbing, performing arts, graphic design and electrical installation are extremely popular so early applications are advised.

Glittering alumni: Actress Marianne Jean-Baptiste; actor Idris Elba; singer and stage star Shaun Escoffery, actor Rasaak Adoti; model Penny Lancaster (Mrs Rod Stewart); actor Russell Tovey; newspaper columnist and producer Victor Lewis-Smith.

Transport links: Barking is easily reached from the A12, the A13 and the A406. The college is situated between Romford train station and Dagenham East Tube (District Line). Plenty of buses nearby.

Who's the boss? Cathy Walsh, principal.

Teaching: In 2007, Ofsted inspectors judged the college to be “excellent in meeting local needs and ensuring that provision is readily accessible to all learners”.

Foundation Degrees: Photography, animation & creative video, 3D design and graphic design.

Nightlife: Located close to Romford Town centre and its busy nightlife the college is also close to rail links (over ground and underground) straight into the heart of London.

Any accommodation? None provided by the college.

Cheap to live there? Around £65 to £90 per week for a room in a shared flat in Romford.

Fees: Completely dependant on course, with some courses available for free if certain criteria are met. Get in touch with the college for details.

Bursaries: Means-tested benefits are available. Contact the college for details.

Prospectus: 01708 770 000; www.barkingcollege.ac.uk

UCAS code: B11