Newcastle-under-Lyme College


Newcastle College is a further education college in Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire, England. It is part of the Newcastle and Stafford Colleges Group. The College has grown significantly over the past 10 years and is currently home to a population of over 3,800 full-time students and around 450 students on higher education programmes. There are over 2,600 part-time/adult learners, and 1,500 apprentices working with around 850 individual employers.
Since 2016 Newcastle Under-Lyme College and Stafford College have merged into Newcastle and Stafford Colleges Group.
In January 2010, the College opened its new £65 million campus. Included on campus is a Sports Centre, Skills and Technology Centre, University Centre and LEGO® Education Innovation Studio.
A £5.5 million Performing Arts Centre was built alongside the main campus, which boasts pass rates and student achievement rates amongst the best in the country.
Newcastle College offers higher education courses in partnership with Staffordshire University. Subjects offered at HND and Foundation Degree-level are increasing and current information can be obtained from the College or its website. Currently, Foundation Degrees include subjects such as: Fashion, Computing, Sustainable Communities, Small Business & Salon Management, Early Childhood Studies, Education,Fine Art, Illustration, 3D Design, Graphics & Digital Design, Photography, Leadership & Management and Social Science.

History

The college was formed as a tertiary college in 1986. However, the term "general further education" college better describes its business. In May 2016 the college announced its intention to merge with Stafford College, which is based in the county town and rated inadequate by Ofsted.
Newcastle-under-Lyme is a North Staffordshire town with a population of 123,100, although the conurbation of Stoke-on-Trent and Newcastle-under-Lyme, together with the Staffordshire Moorlands, accounts for a population of more than 500,000 and it is from this wider catchment area that the College draws the majority of its students.

Notable former students