South Staffordshire College - Celebrating Success

When South Staffordshire College opened its doors to students on January 2009 it ushered in a new era for further and higher education in the West Midlands.

Billed by some as a 'super-college' the new entity was the result of an ambitious merger of sites at Cannock, Lichfield, Rodbaston and Tamworth, headed by Chief Executive Principal Graham Morley with a declared intention to become a 'world-class seat of learning'.

With over 200 full-time and part-time courses, 1300 staff and more than 20,000 students South Staffordshire College was certainly in the premier league for size, with ambition to match. The rationale behind the merger was covered in the Learning and Skills Council consultation document as...

"the need to deliver broad, coherent and comprehensive provision for young people and adults to the highest possible standards" and to; "create a vibrant institution combining the strengths of the three individual colleges, that is better able to respond to the needs of individuals and employers within their communities".

Both Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Shadow Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills David Willetts chose to visit South Staffordshire College in its first year. Gordon Brown called it 'a great college', David Willetts praised its organisation, both emphasised the role of the college in providing more than 700 apprenticeships and providing tailor-made training to more than 1000 businesses large and small.

Organisational success has been mirrored by individual achievements too. College students have won a haul of awards in subjects as diverse as Accountancy and Animal Care, with pride of place going to Level 3 Hair and Beauty student Charlie Burford who won Bronze for Britain in Calgary, Canada at the WorldSkills finals, the 'Olympics' of vocational training.

The number of learners, which includes school leavers, adults looking to enhance their skills and career or choosing to make a career change, businesses looking to improve their competitiveness or local people who want a new hobby,  are running at record levels, even Santa's Grotto at the Rodbaston campus saw record numbers of visitors.

Vice Principal for Curriculum and Quality, Mark Robertson said, "Our first year as South Staffordshire College has seen us achieve some truly outstanding things.  The quality of our teaching combined with our commitment to provide people with the skills they need to succeed in business is paying real dividends.  We've developed a new football academy enabling talented footballers to achieve qualifications whilst training with the best, we will shortly be launching a new golfing academy along the same lines and will continue to develop innovative courses to help our learners succeed.