City College Southampton is a general further education college located in Southampton, Hampshire, England. The college has around 1700 full-time and 5000 part-time students, and offers a wide choice of full-time vocational courses including art & design, beauty, hairdressing, media, hospitality and catering, IT, performing arts, construction, engineering, business studies, care, travel & tourism, childcare, marine technology, boat building and technical theatre. The college was inspected by and was judged to be needing improvement in all areas The college teaches courses for students from 16 years old up. There are courses at all levels depending on the previous qualifications of the student. There are HNDs and HNCs, Access to HE, BTEC Extended Diplomas and many other types of vocational course to give students the qualifications they need. The college also trains apprentices. All of its apprentices are employed by a local business and train some of the time at college. Major local firms such as Griffon Hoverworks have high quality apprenticeship schemes. It runs other training courses for businesses and other organisations such as the local hospitals and City Council. It has been reported that in September 2017 cadets from the Warsash Maritime Academy will move on to the campus. In 2018 a merger between Eastleigh College and Southampton City College was announced. In March 2019, the merger was dropped as the request for funding from the Government to support the planned merger had not been approved.
The Victorian frontage which dates back to the old St Mary workhouse is on the site of earlier almshouses which go back to the 17th century. City College Southampton has its origins in wartime skill shortages and a recognition of the need to set up a technical school in Southampton. Operating from a number of locations; in 1948 the Education Authority took over the old St Mary Institution to provide a more permanent home for the Technical School and following substantial building works and consolidation of a number of local school sites, it was opened as the Technical College in June 1952. In 1960 work had begun on the construction of Southampton College of Technology and the Technical College was administered under this framework. In 1969, however, it became a separate entity and as such adopted the name Southampton Technical College. On 2 April 1995 it changed its name again to Southampton City College.
Redevelopment (2004–2011)
City College has finished an extensive campus redevelopment programme. The first stage was completed in September 2004, which included the completion of a new reception and information & advice centre, new teaching block with learning centres for IT, Art & Design, Health & Social Care and Childcare. The second phase was completed in the summer of 2005 and involved the development of a new technology building which includes facilities for motor vehicle, brickwork and construction trades. In September 2009 an outdated block was transformed to provide industry standard learning facilities for 3D creative design, engineering, professional construction and electrical installation. This block also houses learning centres and a lecture theatre. In September 2010, with 85% of its buildings new or refurbished, City College opened two new blocks, forming the completion phase of the campus redevelopment project. 'The hub' includes a new theatre, TV and radio studios, a business training suite, a learning centre a theatre bar and fitness suite. The conjoined Aspire building houses new facilities for catering, hair and beauty, together with seminar rooms and learning centres. These work-based training facilities are open to the public as the "Aspire" restaurant and "Kudos" Hair and Beauty Salons, and forms an integral part in the education provided in these service-related industries.
The hub
The college's £34 million third phase development of the site provides a commercial and community resource. These new facilities known as 'the hub' can be used by learners of all ages, the local community and local businesses.
eLearning
City College provides a number of electronic systems to support students in their learning.
A virtual learning environment branded as Citybit based on Moodle software is available to all students from inside and outside the college.
A streaming media service branded as Citytube is also available. Very much like "YouTube", students can upload videos as well as view learning content produced or supplied by teachers to support their learning.
In 2011 City College's eLearning systems featured prominently in the OFSTED best practice guide. In 2012 City College Southampton was shortlisted for a in elearning for the work done in Citybit, the VLE.
