| Type | Further Education |
|---|---|
| Principal | Vicki Fagg |
| Location | Dudden Hill Lane London NW10 2XD England |
| Local authority | London Borough of Brent |
| DfE URN | 130429 |
| Ofsted | Reports |
| Students | 14,000 students |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Ages | 14–no upper age limit |
| Website | www.cnwl.ac.uk |
The College of North West London (CNWL) is a further education college in North West London offering a wide range of full time and part time courses, from beginner level to degree level.
Over 14,000 students aged 14 onwards study at two campuses in Willesden, Wembley Park, and a former site in Kilburn.
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CNWL can trace it roots back to 1890, and the formation of Willesden Polytechnic, on the site of the current Kilburn campus.
From 1893, the Willesden committee for technical education organized classes in Willesden town hall. In 1896 Middlesex County Council bought the St. Lawrence institute in Priory Park Road, and by 1898 The Willesden Polytechnic was formed with 1,571 students. A new building was developed for the polytechnic, opening in 1904 on Glengall Road, Kilburn.[1] As World War I took it toll on the male working class population, the polytechnic offered a course in 1917 to women between the ages of 18 to 35 inlight woodwork for aeroplane components.[2]
From 1932, Middlesex County Council undertook a large development in Willesden, and in 1934 split the polytechnic into Kilburn Polytechnic (on the original site), and the new Willesden College of Technology.[1][3] By 1934, the original St. Lawrence Institute building had been demolished, and replaced by the present four-story block. By 1978 there were 1,400 full-time and 4,500 part-time enrolments.[1]
Willesden College of Technology opened in Denzil Road in 1934,[3] to provide the technical courses originally provided by the polytechnic, including the schools of art and building. In 1964 the college took over the buildings of Dudden Hill Lane school. The art school closed in 1959, and in 1969 the school of building amalgamated with other schools to form Sladebrook high school. There were 8,000 enrolments in 1978.[1]
In 1991, the sites again merged to become the College of North West London.[3]
CNWL now offers a broad range of courses, from Apprenticeships and Access courses, through to Foundation and full Academic Degrees. On site facilities support both students and the community, through the Tower restaurant to the Student Union.
The Business Division works closely with employers, and is a provider of the Train to Gain programme, and a partner of the West London Lifelong Learning Network.
Developed in 1934 as the Willesden College of Technology, Willesden is the college's main centre and is situated in Dudden Hill Lane, five minutes' walk from Dollis Hill tube station on the Jubilee Line. Courses range from Access courses (entry to university), BTEC Diplomas and Certificates and GCSEs to Foundation degrees and higher education qualifications.
The new Telford building was opened officially in March 2009 by Lord Young of the Government’s Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills. It provides high quality training facilities for the Faculty of Technology.
This campus is now based at Arena house. Arena house is easy to access and is opposite Wembley Park tube station. The Tower Restaurant and the salon, which are open to the general public, are both based at this centre.
The original part of the site dates to 1890, with Art Deco additions in the 1930s with the development of Kilburn Polytechnic. A brand new £5 million college centre was opened in Priory Park Road, on 31 August 2007 by the then Mayor of London Ken Livingstone.[3] The Mayor told guests "To come here and see something as beautiful as this - it makes you want to do a course just to enjoy the building."[4] He also added that "this college has been designed as a role model for what we want across London, which is to give people the opportunity to get in on the first rung of education and get the skills they want in life."[4] Principal Vicki Fagg described the building as "architecturally stunning",[4] while assistant principal Malcolm Rapier remarked: "It is a real statement for further education students and for Kilburn."[5]
In May 2008, the centre won second prize in the RIBA / LSC Further Education Design Excellence Awards, with the judges complementing the College on its contribution to the regeneration of Kilburn.[6]
In March 2010, the college announced that it would suspend operations at Kilburn from September 2010.[7] In response, students set up a petition to keep the Kilburn Campus open.[8]
Sarah Teather, MP for Brent East, condemned the decision to close the Kilburn Campus, describing it as a "body blow" to unemployed people in Brent.[9] Ed Fordham, Lib Dem Parliamentary Candidate for Hampstead and Kilburn reacted by asking "why would you close this down unless you wanted to throw 100 years of education in Kilburn down the pan?"[10]
It has also emerged that Councillor Ann John, the leader of Brent Council, voted as a member of the College Board of Governors to close the Kilburn campus. When questioned by the local press, she claimed that she had "a collective responsibility" and that "it won't close for good."[11]
In November 2010, the local Times newspaper revealed that the college was planning to sell the Kilburn campus.[12] A number of local councillors expressed their dismay at the decision and have pledged to continue the fight to save the campus.[13]
The College of North West London runs a number of Higher Education qualifications and has close links with: