North Hertfordshire College
{{Use British English|date=February 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2018}}
{{Infobox school
| name = North Hertfordshire College
| native_name =
| image = North Hertfordshire College Logo.png
| image_size =
| established = 1991 (by amalgamation)
| closed =
| type = College of further education
| president =
| head_label = Principal and Chief executive
| head = Kit Davies
| r_head_label =
| r_head =
| chair_label =
| chair =
| founder =
| specialist =
| address =
| city = Stevenage, Hitchin,
| county = Hertfordshire
| country = England
| postcode =
| local_authority =
| dfeno =
| urn =
| ofsted = Grade 2 (Good) –- November 2017
| staff =
| enrolment = 10,500
| gender = Mixed
| lower_age = 16
| upper_age =
| website = http://www.nhc.ac.uk
}}
{{Coord|51.897|-0.200|display=title|region:GB_scale:5000}}
North Hertfordshire College ("NHC") is a further education and higher education college operating in Stevenage, Hitchin, and Letchworth Garden City. NHC was established on 1 April 1991,{{cite web | title =FEFC Inspection Report 30/94 – North Hertfordshire College – Eastern Region – Inspected September 1993 – February 1994 | publisher =Further Education Funding Council | date =May 1994 | url =http://dera.ioe.ac.uk/3249/1/north_hertfordshire_cyc1.pdf | format =pdf | accessdate =8 February 2012 }} through the amalgamation of Stevenage College, Hitchin College and Letchworth Technical College. NHC is graded 'Good with Outstanding features' by Ofsted.
History
The college was established on 1 April 1991 when further education, in Hertfordshire, was reorganised. One of the institutions merged into the new college was Hitchin College of Further Education.{{cite web | title =Arts Council For North Hertfordshire | work =HertsDirect | publisher =Hertfordshire County Council | url =http://www.hertsdirect.org/your-community/comvol/hobbi2y/hyart3y/artcouandtrusts4/432397 | accessdate =8 February 2012 }}
Campuses and Facilities
The college has two campuses in Stevenage, one in Hitchin, and an administrative centre in Letchworth Garden City.
=Stevenage Centre=
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II opened the Stevenage Centre in 2003. This centre is the largest campus; subjects taught there are childcare, General Certificate of Secondary Education subjects, Higher Education, health and social care, including science.
=Engineering and Construction Campus=
The Engineering and Construction Campus offers courses in carpentry, plumbing, electrical course offer, brickwork, engineering, and painting including decorating. In 2011, the centre expanded with a new welding training centre which was opened by Skills Minister, Matthew Hancock.{{cite web | title =Skills Minister opens welding training centre in Stevenage | publisher =Stephen McPartland | url =http://www.stephen-mcpartland.com/local-news/197-skills-minister-opens-welding-training-centre-in-stevenage | accessdate =1 July 2014 }}
=Hitchin Centre=
The Hitchin Centre offers courses in business, tourism and events, hair and beauty, catering, sport, public services as well as creative arts. In 2012 to 2014, the centre was redeveloped.{{cite web | title =Hitchin Centre Redevelopment | work =Scott Brownrigg | publisher =North Herts District Council | url =http://www.north-herts.gov.uk/docfilesrv/852/01/00/07/01000739.pdf | accessdate =1 July 2014 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20140714182650/http://www.north-herts.gov.uk/docfilesrv/852/01/00/07/01000739.pdf | archive-date =14 July 2014 | url-status =dead }}
==The Retreat==
The Retreat, based at the Hitchin Centre, offers hairdressing and beauty therapy services. The salon is staffed by qualified and learning students.
==Sports Centre==
The Sports Centre offers sport and fitness facilities to students and the public, including basketball courts, fitness studios, dance studios, a gym, and an all weather 3G football pitch.
==The Meadows==
The Meadows is a student-run restaurant. Under the direction of a head chef, students design menus as well as prepare and serve food and drinks to customers, including a lunch menu as well as theme evenings throughout the year.{{cn|date=April 2023}}
Airbus Foundation Discovery Space
In January 2017, NHC and Airbus opened a Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics education centre, the Airbus Foundation Discovery Space, which is backed and funded by the Airbus Foundation and the Hertfordshire LEP. The centre was opened by astronaut Tim Peake.{{Cite news|url=http://www.thecomet.net/news/education/british-astronaut-tim-peake-opens-new-education-centre-at-airbus-defence-and-space-in-stevenage-after-announcing-he-will-be-returning-to-space-1-4864205|title=British astronaut Tim Peake opens new education centre at Airbus Defence and Space in Stevenage after announcing he will be returning to space|last=Elvery|first=Martin|work=The Comet|access-date=18 January 2018}}
Grading
The college has been accredited with Investors in People Gold Award in 2012 and 2014.
In November 2017, NHC underwent an Ofsted inspection and received a Grade 2 (Good) for overall effectiveness of the provision. The effectiveness of the college's higher needs provision and traineeship were graded as Outstanding.{{Cite web|url=https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/inspection-reports/find-inspection-report/provider/ELS/130721|title=Find an inspection report|last=Ofsted Communications Team.|date=5 November 2010|publisher=Government of the United Kingdom|access-date=18 January 2018}}
Notable alumni
NHC alumni include:
- Ed Westwick, actor
- George Boyd, footballer
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.nhc.ac.uk North Hertfordshire College website]
- {{cite web |title =FEFC Inspection Report 30/94 – North Hertfordshire College – Eastern Region – Inspected September 1993 – February 1994 | publisher =Further Education Funding Council | date =May 1994 | url =http://dera.ioe.ac.uk/3249/1/north_hertfordshire_cyc1.pdf | format =pdf | accessdate =8 February 2012 }}
- {{cite web |url=http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/inspection-reports/find-inspection-report/provider/ELS/130721 |title=OFSTED report |publisher=OFSTED }}
- {{cite web |title =Arts Council For North Hertfordshire | work =HertsDirect | publisher =Hertfordshire County Council | url =http://www.hertsdirect.org/your-community/comvol/hobbi2y/hyart3y/artcouandtrusts4/432397 | accessdate =8 February 2012 }}
- {{cite web |title =Skills Minister opens welding training centre in Stevenage | publisher =Stephen McPartland | url =http://www.stephen-mcpartland.com/local-news/197-skills-minister-opens-welding-training-centre-in-stevenage | accessdate =1 July 2014 }}
- {{cite web | title =Hitchin Centre Redevelopment | work =Scott Brownrigg | publisher =North Herts District Council | url =http://www.north-herts.gov.uk/docfilesrv/852/01/00/07/01000739.pdf | accessdate =1 July 2014 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20140714182650/http://www.north-herts.gov.uk/docfilesrv/852/01/00/07/01000739.pdf | archive-date =14 July 2014 | url-status =dead }}
{{Universities and colleges in the East of England}}
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Category:Buildings and structures in Hitchin
Category:Further education colleges in Hertfordshire