Misplaced Pages

#7992

22-567: Bedford College may refer to: Bedford College, Bedford , a further education college based in Bedford, England, founded 1959 Bedford College of Higher Education , a former higher education college based in Bedford, England, active 1976–1994 Bedford College, London , a university college in London, England, founded 1849, merged into Royal Holloway College 1985 [REDACTED] Topics referred to by

44-517: A method to addresses the management implications of balancing the existing core function of educating pupils whilst developing support and training facilities for other educational professionals. Findings indicate that effective communication, both internally and externally, coupled with a clear sense of purpose and vision, have enabled schools that qualify as a Beacon school to fulfil both roles. After successfully isolating qualities that schools can embody to both educate students and develop teachers,

66-524: A range of academic and vocational qualifications, apprenticeship , access to higher education courses, higher education qualifications and foundation education programmes. The areas of study include – The Bedford Sixth Form is a sixth form centre operated by Bedford College on the site of the former Bedford High School . Courses offered include GCSEs , A Levels and BTECs . Shuttleworth College located in Old Warden , Central Bedfordshire

88-632: A sufficient number of pupils. In October 2014, it was announced that Hastingsbury Business & Enterprise College at Kempston would convert to an academy in partnership with Bedford College. The school was later renamed Kempston Academy , and after extending its lower age range in 2017 is now a secondary school. Today the trust is the sponsor of Wixams Academy and Wixams Tree Primary, both located in Wixams . 52°07′59″N 0°28′02″W  /  52.13315°N 0.46726°W  / 52.13315; -0.46726 Beacon Status The initiative

110-581: Is different from Wikidata All article disambiguation pages All disambiguation pages Bedford College, Bedford Bedford College is a further education college located in Bedford , Bedfordshire, England. It is the principal further education provider in the Borough of Bedford . Further Education courses have been provided on Bedford College's Cauldwell Street campus under some name since World War II , although its roots can be traced to

132-451: Is operated by Bedford College. Shuttleworth College mainly provides courses and training related to agriculture and the natural environment . Bedford College also operates four 'Learning Centres' located in the town centres of Bedford , Milton Keynes , Luton and Rushden which offer IT skills and courses. Bedford College formed Bedford College Academies Trust in 2013. The Trust was the initial sponsor of Bedford Academy , located in

154-467: The Department for Education and Employment for their educational expertise in the areas of management or curriculum with the strategic aim that these institutions were to be 'held up as beacons of excellence' for other schools to emulate. These schools were expected to maintain their level of perceived excellence whilst, at the same time, attempting to assist others in their development. The programme

176-631: The Harpur Trust ) intended to sponsor John Bunyan Upper School (a state comprehensive school in Bedford) thereby turning the school into an academy . This was confirmed by Bedfordshire County Council the following June. Bedford Academy opened in September 2010. In July 2009, the college was formally awarded Beacon Status by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills . The status means that Bedford College has been recognised as one of

198-689: The Kingsbrook area of Bedford, along with the Harpur Trust . In April 2014, Bedford College became a new sponsor of UTC Central Bedfordshire in Houghton Regis, and worked on building a new centre for students with the highest levels of need. This was at the request of the Department for Education after the UTC failed an inspection. However, the UTC closed in August 2016 after failing to attract

220-755: The Adult Learning Inspectorate (ALI) were responsible for inspection and making sure the schools maintain their level of excellence and disseminating their practices. The status had to be renewed every three years. This scheme has been replaced by the specialist schools programme for secondary schools, which includes new initiatives such as the Leading Edge Partnership programme. At primary school level, Primary Strategy Learning Networks (PSLNs) are being created to encourage co-operation between schools. In 1998, 74 primary, secondary, nursery and special schools were selected by

242-501: The best further education colleges in the United Kingdom. In August 2009, it was announced that Shuttleworth College had become part of Bedford College. Shuttleworth College had previously been part of Writtle College . In September 2012, Bedford College leased the site of the former Bedford High School for a campus in the north of Bedford town centre. Bedford High School closed over the summer of 2012. The college bought

SECTION 10

#1732772509008

264-516: The college combined with two teacher training institutions to form the split-site Bedford College of Higher Education . The college remained in this form until 1992, when Further Education colleges achieved independent status from local education authorities . Bedford College was formed as a Further Education Institute to concentrate on provision within this sector, remaining at the Cauldwell Street campus. The Higher Education areas of

286-626: The college separated in 1994 to become the Bedford campus of the De Montfort University , but later merged with the University of Luton to form the University of Bedfordshire . Bedford College retains some Higher Education provision, and provides a number of foundation degrees and select teaching qualifications in association with the University of Bedfordshire. In January 2008 it was announced that Bedford College (with

308-401: The efficiency of student and teacher development. The evaluation is based on a questionnaire consisting of closed questions plus an open-ended question encouraging the respondent to provide more detail about their school's Beacon activities. Data from the closed questions was analysed to produce frequencies of data. The responses to the open question were coded, and the data was analysed using

330-506: The following main themes: Though the United Kingdom 's public sector had implemented many educational reform initiatives in the past, the beacon status initiative was the first of its kind. The initiative is distinguishable from other educational reform initiatives in two important respects. Firstly the beacon status initiative was funded and operated by, the government rather than non-government organizations . The UK government

352-449: The founding of Bedford Training College for Teachers in 1882. Following construction of the college's six-storey tower block, opened on 19 June 1959, the college became known as Mander College of Further Education . The college was named after Sir Frederick Mander , who was Chairman of Bedfordshire County Council at the time of the tower's construction. The tower was erected at a cost of £282,510, plus £4,085 for external works. In 1976

374-449: The initiative went beyond the pilot stage and expanded further when 125 more schools joined in September 1999. The number of Beacon Schools in operation more than doubled in September 2000 when 300 more schools took on Beacon status. But, the largest expansion was in September 2001 when a further 425 schools became part of the initiative. The number of Beacon Schools reached a peak of around 1150 by September 2002, and this level of involvement

396-803: The old main school buildings, Trinity Church, and the Sports and Performing Arts (SPA) complex from owners, the Harpur Trust in March 2014. The Bedford Sixth Form occupies the campus (Bedford College's branding of its sixth form provision). The SPA complex became Trinity Arts & Leisure, managed by Bedford College Services Ltd. In August 2017, Bedford College and Tresham College merged to become The Bedford College Group which includes Shuttleworth College , and The Bedford Sixth Form , as well as campuses in Wellingborough , Kettering and Corby . The Corby campus opened in 2023. Bedford College offers

418-484: The same term This disambiguation page lists articles about schools, colleges, or other educational institutions which are associated with the same title. If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article. Retrieved from " https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bedford_College&oldid=1240519217 " Category : Educational institution disambiguation pages Hidden categories: Short description

440-652: Was discontinued due to uncertainty as to whether or not the initiative actually improved Beacon schools . The award congratulated learning providers that deliver outstanding teaching and learning and were well led and managed; schools were funded to enable them to build partnerships with each other and to share effective practice with other schools. For instance, an excellently performing school might have been 'twinned' with another school defined as failing, or in special measures, in order to improve that school's performance. The Office for Standards in Education (OFSTED) and

462-417: Was maintained into 2003. In 2004, Beacon evaluation and funding to Beacon schools was discontinued due to uncertainty with whether the initiative actually improved schools. Beacon activity is now decided on a local level, however the principle of schools working together, collaborating to share good practice, remains strong. Beacon schools are evaluated based on certain criteria developed to accurately assess

SECTION 20

#1732772509008

484-462: Was part of the UK government's focus on school improvement through diversity, collaboration and partnership. The purpose of these schools was to recognize a cross section of educational best practice and spread it to other schools. All potential Beacon Schools were requested to complete a short, focused questionnaire and, based on analysis of this survey, the Department for Education and Employment created

#7992