Sussex Downs College
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Sussex Downs College is a large college in the South East of England. It has campuses in Eastbourne, Lewes and Newhaven. It was formed from the merger of three smaller colleges in the region - Lewes Sixth Form College, Park Sixth Form College and Eastbourne College of Arts and Technology (more recently known as Eastbourne Vocational College).
Although there was primarily some speculation over a successful merger Sussex Downs College has since proved itself of exceptional standard, achieving CoVE status (Certificate of Vocational Excellence) an award that very few other colleges have managed to attain. Offering 16-19, Adult, and International or Higher Education courses the range attracts people from all walks of life. Although functioning as one college the ethos of the individual campuses remains the same giving the students an individual choice as to how they learn, yet the security of a vastly equipped support network.
Set in the heart of the South Downs, Sussex Downs College provides an inspiring and relaxed environment in which to study.
The Office for Standards in Education describes the college's programs as follows:
- "The college has provision in all the areas of learning defined by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC). The most significant areas of learning in terms of student enrolments: are science and mathematics; business; information and communications technology (ICT); health and social care; visual and performing arts; humanities; English, languages and communication; and foundation programmes. Work-based learning has recently been introduced in a wide range of vocational areas, including business, construction, engineering, hairdressing and beauty therapy, and health and social care. The college is designated as a Centre of Vocational Excellence for the performing arts and entertainment industries. In 2000/01, the college had 3,080 full-time students aged 16 to 18, 809 full-time adult students and 12,782 part-time adult students. Some 82% of students classify themselves as white. The proportion of students from minority ethnic groups is small and reflects the composition of the local population. Female students made up 63% of the student population in 2000/01."
[edit] School ranking
For the year 2004, Sussex Downs College received an A/AS-level performance ranking from the Department for Education and Skills of 228.2, below the national average of 269.2. This ranking should dramatically improve given the College's recent success of obtaining at an A level pass rate of 98.6% in 2006 Ofsted Report
[edit] Criticism
The college has a wealth of modern, spacious buildings across the three campuses, however there remain a number of inadequate facilities, such as Park College in Eastbourne. Previous students have complained of substantial overcrowding in the corridors and social areas as well as cramped teaching spaces and not nearly enough ICT resources. The college is however in the process of upgrading and constructing new buildings.
