Abingdon and Witney College

{{Infobox school

| name = Abingdon & Witney College

| logo = Abingdon_and_Witney_College_Logo.gif

| image = Abingdon and Witney College, new building at Witney campus.jpg

| caption = Windrush building at Witney Campus

| motto =

| established = {{Start date|2001|04}}

| closed =

| type = Further education

| principal = Jacqui Canton

| location = Abingdon Campus, Witney Campus

| city = Wootton Road, Holloway Road

| county = Abingdon, Witney

| country = England

| postcode = OX14 1GG, OX28 6NE

| local_authority = Oxfordshire

| gender = Co-educational

| campuses = 4

| website = {{URL|www.abingdon-witney.ac.uk}}

}}

Abingdon & Witney College is a further education provider in the United Kingdom. It was established in April 2001 after the merger of Abingdon College and West Oxfordshire College. It has four campuses: Abingdon, Witney, Common Leys Farm and a Construction Skills Centre in Bicester.

History

it was established in April 2001 after the merger of Abingdon College and West Oxfordshire College.{{citation needed|date=February 2025}} After it underwent a £7.4 million redevelopment, it reopened in July 2012. A new building had been built both on its Abingdon campus, and on its Witney College campus in Witney. The new buildings according to the BBC included "TV and radio studios, editing suites, two beauty salons, two hairdressing salons, art and design studios, science labs and conference facilities."{{Citation |date=July 20, 2012 |title=Abingdon and Witney College £7.4m redevelopment opens |publisher=BBC |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-18922723 |access-date=February 13, 2025}}

The college was graded "good" with "outstanding" leadership and management by Ofsted in January 2014,{{citation needed|date=February 2025}} and also graded as 'good' in 2024.{{Citation|year=2024 |title=Abingdon and Witney College Receives 'Good' Ofsted Rating |publisher=Ox Magazine |url=https://www.oxmag.co.uk/articles/abingdon-and-witney-college-receives-good-ofsted-rating/ |access-date=February 13, 2025}} In 2015 the college was the No.1 Further Education College in England for 16-18 year old success rates.{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/sfa-national-success-rates-tables-2013-to-2014|title=SFA: national success rates tables 2013 to 2014|date=10 July 2015 |access-date=23 February 2016}} In June 2015, the Oxfordshire Skills and Learning Service (OSLS) transferred from Oxfordshire County Council to Abingdon & Witney College.{{citation needed|date=February 2025}} In 2024, Jacqui Canton remained CEO of the college{{Citation |date=July 15, 2024 |title=Council awards funding to Abingdon and Witney College to boost local skills and support green initiatives |publisher=West Oxfordshire District Council |url=https://news.westoxon.gov.uk/news/council-awards-funding-to-abingdon-and-witney-college-to-boost-local-skills-and-support-green-initiatives |access-date=}} as well as Principal.{{Citation |last=Norman |first=Matthew |date=August 18, 2023 |title=Abingdon and Witney College Principal 'so proud' of pupils |publisher=Oxford Mail |url=https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/23733592.abingdon-witney-college-principal-so-proud-pupils/ |access-date=February 13, 2025}}

Campuses

=Abingdon Campus=

The Abingdon Campus has undergone major refurbishment over the years, with the building work completed in late 2015. Part of the refurbishment was the Advanced Skills Centre, funded by the Local Enterprise Partnership.{{citation needed|date=February 2025}} https://abingdon-witney.ac.uk/campuses/abingdon-campus/advanced-skills-centre

=Witney Campus=

The redevelopment of the Witney campus was completed in early 2016. Among the new facilities is a television studio. A Construction Skills Centre is also on-site.{{citation needed|date=February 2025}}

=Common Leys Campus=

The Common Leys campus is a 60-acre plot in Hailey, Oxfordshire designed for land-based courses.{{citation needed|date=February 2025}} Witney Stud Farm is based at the Common Leys campus and is home to a thoroughbred stud and equestrian center, which has been awarded a Queen's Anniversary Prize.{{citation needed|date=February 2025}} The facility houses animals such as a family of meerkats, cows, donkeys, sheep, goats, and alpacas.{{Citation|year=2025 |title=Animal Enclosures |publisher=Abingdon and Witney |url=https://abingdon-witney.ac.uk/campuses/common-leys-farm/animal-enclosures |access-date=February 13, 2025}} It opened a livestock technology building in May 2019 for agritech classes. It also has a horticulture unit, equine facilities, a dog grooming room, and a canine hydrotherapy center.{{Citation|year=2025 |title=Farm Campus |publisher=Abingdon and Witney |url=https://abingdon-witney.ac.uk/campuses/common-leys-farm |access-date=February 13, 2025}}

The Common Leys Campus was graded "outstanding" by Ofsted in January 2014.{{citation needed|date=February 2025}}

= Bicester Construction Skills Centre =

Bicester Construction Skills Centre, opened in 2021, as part of the College's commitment to delivering more apprenticeships across the county, providing over 100 apprentice places each year, including provisions for adults.https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/19262995.abingdon-witney-college-open-new-bicester-site/

Programs

As well as vocational qualifications, Abingdon & Witney College is an apprenticeship provider.

Abingdon & Witney College provides vocational courses for post-16 students, as well as Higher Education, part-time and Professional programmes.{{citation needed|date=February 2025}}