Hadlow College

Hadlow College

Established	1968
Type	Further Education, Higher Education
Principal	Mr Paul Hannan
Chair of Governors	Mr Nick Coffin
Location	Tonbridge Road Hadlow Kent TN11 0AL England Coordinates: 51°13′31″N 0°19′44″E / 51.22523°N 0.32888°E / 51.22523; 0.32888
DfE number	886/8300
DfE URN	130733 Tables
Ofsted	Reports
Gender	Mixed
Ages	16–99
Website	College homepage

Hadlow College is a Further Education and Higher Education college in Hadlow, Kent with satellite sites in Canterbury and London. The curriculum primarily covers land-based subjects including Forestry & Arboriculture, Agriculture, Conservation and Wildlife Management, Animal Management, Fisheries Management, Equine Studies, Outdoor Pursuits, Floristry, Horticulture, Garden Design, Landscape Management and sustainability. Additionally, intermediate and advanced apprenticeships are offered in Agriculture, Horiticulture and Land-based Engineering.

Origins and history

In 1919 a scheme of Agricultural Education for the County, which included the provision of a Farm Institute, was approved at a meeting of the Kent Education Committee. Borden Grammar School at Sittingbourne agreed to sell their property to this committee as soon as a new grammar school was built, but it was not until 1929 that Borden Grammar was occupied and its building adapted for Farm Institute purposes. Grove End Farm, Tunstall was purchased in July 1919 to be run as the Institute Farm.

After the Second World War, the Kent Education Committee bought the Swanley property together with 60 acres (24 ha) of land. Until 1949 the Horticulture Institute was used as a training centre in horticulture for ex-service personnel under the supervision of the Ministry of Agriculture. In September 1949 the Education Committee took possession and the Horticulture Institute was developed and run on parallel line to the Farm Institute.

In 1958 the two institutes were merged to form the Kent Farm and Horticulture Institute. Although the two departments were 30 miles (48 km) apart, this was the first step in bringing the two together. In the spring of 1960, 600 acres (240 ha) of land was purchased from Hadlow for the establishment of a combined Institute. The Agricultural Department moved from Sittingbourne to the new site in the summer of 1966, and the Horticultural Department in the summer of 1967. The Insititute was then renamed Hadlow College of Agriculture and Horticulture.

On Friday 22 March 1968, His Royal Highness Prince Phillip the Duke of Edinburgh, officially opened the college.

K College takeover

Hadlow College Group also runs Ashford College and West Kent College as of 1 August 2014. These were formerly part of K College.

Facilities

Set on a 630-acre (250 ha) estate, Hadlow College enjoys many facilities. Its equine centre is listed within the London 2012 Training Guide and the new animal management building (opening spring 2009) will be amongst the best in the country.

Additional facilities on the estate include a fully functioning farm with a dairy herd and milking parlour, breeding sheep and arable crops, commercial dog grooming parlour and exotic species, variety of habitats for woodland and countryside management, stock ponds, hatchery, cross country equine courses together with international size arenas, 3.2 acres (13,000 m²) glasshouse complex and a landscape training centre.

Broadview Gardens, the on-site visitor attraction, also plays an important role in College life. These 10 acres (4.0 ha) of landscaped gardens provide an inspiration to the horticulture and garden design students, as well as being a useful area for them to practise their skills. It is also home to Sandell Lake. These gardens are constantly being updated and added to. For example, Hadlow College 's garden, Full Frontal, which won Gold at the 2007 Hampton Court Palace Flower Show has recently been re-created within the grounds. Highlighting the effects which block paving can have on the environment, Full Frontal presents an alternative based around the fact it is possible to have flowers, plants and a parking space in ones front garden without the need for concrete.

In October 2009 Princess Christian's Farm came underneath the umbrella of the college. Run in partnership with Kent County Council Social Services for the benefit of adults with learning difficulties and disabilities, the overall aim of the partnership is for the individuals to learn new skills and develop opportunities to move into employment.

Betteshanger Sustainable Parks

In 2009 Hadlow College was approached by Dover District Council and Kent County Council to develop the site of the former Betteshanger Colliery. The resultant scheme – Betteshanger Sustainable Parks – is the outcome of four years of partnership working.

Designed to transform the site into a 21st-century global laboratory which brings together business, education and green technologies, it aims to create over 1,000 jobs for the local area and generate £29m private sector investment. The scheme will include a national eco-tourism visitor destination to showcase mining heritage and sustainable energy production, as well as a bespoke green technologies enterprise complex and world-class research and development supported through the Betteshanger Sustainable Education Centre.

The scheme was launched on 6 November 2013^[1] at the House of Commons with work commencing on site in 2014.

Royal Borough of Greenwich Equestrian Centre

Formally opened in December 2013 by HRH The Princess Royal,^[2] the Royal Borough of Greenwich Equestrian Centre offers full-time further and higher education, as well as part-time courses, in horse care and equine therapy.

Designed to create a lasting legacy for the Royal Borough of Greenwich from the London 2012 Olympic Games, this £5m centre of excellence aims to benefit the residents of the borough by providing access to first class training and educational facilities.

Current courses include Level 1 and Level 2 qualifications in Horse Care as well as a full BSc (Hons) degree in Equine Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation. Facilities include stables for 20 horses, a hydrotherapy pool, indoor arena and outdoor manege as well as a show-jumping paddock and horse-walker.

Hadlow Rural Community School

In September 2013, a mixed Free School opened on the Hadlow campus. The first school in Kent to offer a farm-based secondary education for students aged 11 to 16. The school started with 80 pupils, and has a maximum capacity of 330.^[3]

Ofsted and academic performance

In June 2010 the college was graded "outstanding" by Ofsted. This result complemented the "outstanding" grade which the college had received in March 2009 for its care provision. These results have cemented the college's place amongst the elite of UK colleges.

References

External links

• College homepage
• University of Greenwich
• Hadlow Rural Community School