Southport College

Southport College

Age: 74

History: An independent FE institution, born out of the Southport Technical College (founded 1935) and Southport College of Arts and Crafts (1938). The two institutions merged in1983 to create Southport College as it is known today.

Address: Based at a main campus on Mornington Road, in the heart of the seaside town of Southport. There are also three local learning centres for adults in Formby, Waterloo and Maghull.

Ambience: The main campus is a blend of old and new with some original buildings dating back to the 1930s and extensions that have been added from the 1960s onwards. The college has recently spent £10 million on a sports centre and fitness suite, performing arts centre with an auditorium, rehearsal rooms and a foyer with bar, a refectory and landscaped gardens. The campus is within walking distance of Southport's main attractions, including the famous Victorian Lord Street shopping parade, the seafront and the pier.

Vital statistics: The College provides education and training to thousands of students every year and has partnerships and associations with local HE institutions Liverpool John Moores University, the University of Central Lancashire and Edge Hill University. It caters for a range of ages – from 14 year old students on School Links programmes to adult learners over 90 years old – and offers courses at all levels, from basic skills up to foundation degrees, honours degrees, access courses and a Certificate in Education/Post-graduate Certificate in Education. It also has an established Employer Services department that provides bespoke business training solutions to employers across the North West.

Added value: Success rates and student satisfaction levels are good. The college boasts modern accommodation including spacious art studios, construction workshops and a large learning resource centre with computer access for all students.

Easy to get into? Entry requirements depend on the course, but the college is keen to widen participation.

Glittering alumni: Comedian Alexei Sayle, chef Marcus Wareing, musician Marc Almond and actor Steven Fletcher were all students at Southport College.

Transport links: Southport is well served with transport links; the railway station is only a five-minute walk away from the College and provides links to Liverpool and Manchester. Buses from across the region stop regularly on Lord Street which is also a five-minute walk from the College.

Who's the boss? Principal Brian Mitchell.

Teaching: Outstanding, good or satisfactory in all areas inspected by Ofsted in 2008.

Foundation Degrees: Include Accountancy, Business & Management, Integrated Children’s/Young People’s Practice and New Media Design and Technology.

Nightlife: The town of Southport offers a vast array of clubs and bars as well as many restaurants and bistros, a cinema, three theatres and a number of live music venues. Couple that with easy transport links to the cosmopolitan cities of Liverpool, Manchester and Preston and students really are spoilt for choice.

Any accommodation? None provided by the college but private landlords can provide town centre accommodation at very reasonable prices.

Cheap to live there? Some areas of Southport have weekly rent starting at £35 for a room in a shared house and wallet-friendly accommodation can also be found in nearby Liverpool.

Prospectus: Call Student Services on 0845 00 66 236 or visit www.southport.ac.uk

UCAS code: S35