Welcome
Oldham Sixth Form College opened in September 1992 and currently has just over 2000 full time 16-18 students. Oldham LEA made its significant and generous investment in the College for two fundamental reasons: to increase participation in post-16 education and to enhance the academic performance of Oldham students at 18 so that they could progress successfully to higher education or employment. We have been conspicuously successful on both counts.
The establishment of the College has created opportunities for an innovative approach to education at this level. The primary concerns in devising the College curriculum were to give students a breadth of subject choice and to select specifications which encouraged good classroom practice. To complement this provision, all College students can pursue IT Key Skills Level 2 or 3 and a popular Enrichment Programme to ensure that they have the necessary skills required by higher education and employers. The Enrichment Programme enables students to pursue leisure interests as well as nationally recognised awards such as First Aid and the Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award. It also offers opportunities to stretch the Gifted & Talented. A full range of team sports is offered with weekly fixtures.
Students’ learning is supported and managed by a team of dedicated and experienced Personal Tutors who have considerable responsibility for students in their care. Progress is regularly monitored and students are encouraged to take responsibility for their own learning. Careers guidance in the College is excellent and the guidance team includes Personal Advisors from the Oldham Connexions Service who are in College all week.
Facilities for learning in the College are outstanding. The Learning Resource Centre is equipped with 100 personal computers, with over 850 available for student use throughout the College, and students receive one to one support from highly trained learning resource technicians. Students have access to the Internet, the College Intranet/VLE and e-mail facilities. Classrooms and laboratories are well equipped with most containing interactive whiteboards and there are six additional study areas and two Learning Support classrooms also equipped with computers where students can work in groups. There is an excellent Sports Centre with its own sports hall, dance studio and fitness room. The College also has its own Theatre where drama performances and other events are regularly staged.
The student body is active with a fully elected Student Association Executive, the chair of which acts as Student Governor to the Corporation. The Association meets regularly and promotes students’ opinion and welfare to senior management and to the Governors. They organise social events and support charities and the local community.
The College was inspected by Ofsted in March 2004 and received an outstanding report. We achieved LSC Beacon status in March 2005 and have continued to receive “outstanding” ratings at subsequent Annual Assessment Visits.
For more information on Oldham and the surrounding area please visit the following web sites:
