History of West Suffolk College

Brief History - 1951 to 2011

West Suffolk College has evolved over more than 50 years from a small provider of evening classes for the people of Bury St Edmunds to an established, major, player providing quality education to the East Anglia region and beyond.

2011
- A launch event for the School of Participation took place in February. The new facilities in Edmund House provide a safe and inspiring environment for young people.

2010
- The course formerly known as STEPS was rebranded as Springboard, still working with 16 to 19 year olds with learning difficulties and disabilities.
- Contracts were exchanged on the premises of CML Innovative Technologies in Beetons Way in September, with the official handover in October. A million pound refurbishment should be completed by the end of May 2011.
- Building work was carried out to refurbish Edmund House, the oldest of the buildings on the Bury St Edmunds campus. Work started during the summer of 2010.
- OfSTED Inspectors who visited the College in May judged it Outstanding in many areas. The overall grade awarded was Good with many Outstanding features.
- BBC Blast 'Creative Village' came to College in June, giving students a first-hand chance to find out about working in the creative industries, meet industry professionals, learn new skills and use the latest technology.
- Betty Milburn, Chair of Governors, went to Buckingham Palace to receive the MBE, bestowed on her in the 2010 New Year Honours list in recognition of her services to Further Education and to the community in Suffolk.

2009
- Geoff Russell, Chief Executive of the Learning and Skills Council, visited the College in December 2009 to celebrate and recognise the College's achievement in gaining the TQS in seven areas of provision.
- A £58 million grant was offered by the LSC (Learning & Skills Council) towards an £80 million building programme which would have transformed the Bury St Edmunds campus. The grant was subseqently withdrawn after the LSC was found to have exceeded its budget.

2008
- The WSC Educational Opportunity Trust, an independent charity making financial grants to students and former students, was founded in December 2008 following offers of donations from local employers and former students.
- The College was one of only two providers in the East region to be awarded the new Training Quality Standard (TQS) and one of only four organisations across the country to have the TQS in two vocational areas at the inital launch in May.
- The College launched three Learning and Enterprise Access Point (LEAP) Centres in Stowmarket, Mildenhall and Haverhill.
- Leonardo House, the Arts and Sciences building on the Bury St Edmunds campus, Bury St Edmunds was officially opened in June 2008 by Deborah Cadman, Chief Executive of St Edmundsbury Borough Council.
- The College celebrated 15 years as an independent corporation in April 2008.

2007
- The College was named as one of the Top 100 Large and Medium sized companies in the Sunday Times 'Best Companies to Work For' 2007 list.
- Chris Banks, Chairman of the Learning & Skills Council nationally, visited the College in January 2007 to celebrate the fact that the College had been awarded Beacon status in recognition of excellence and innovation within the Learning and Skills sector.

2006
- When OfSTED inspectors visited the College in May, they awarded the highest accolade - Grade 1: Outstanding - across the board in five areas inspected. These were: Effectiveness of provision, Capacity to improve, Achievements and standards, Quality of provision, Leadership and management.

2005
- Refurbishment of central administration offices.
- Production kitchen refurbishment.
- Upgrade to heating systems to improve environmental impact.
- DDA improvements across the campus.
- Creation of Early Years CoVE Centre.
- Demolition works to prepare site for new building - Leonardo House for Arts and Sciences.

2004 Build the Centre of Vocational Excellence (CoVE) suite for Management & Professional Studies.
- Expanded Anglian Lane facilities.
- Converted the top floor of Suffolk House into a Computing Suite

2003 Opening of New Minden House (for Foundation and STEPS students with learning disabilities).
- Relocation of the Children’s Centre into the Sunshine Nursery.
- E0.45 Theatre Company is moved to Burma House
- The In Vogue hairdressing salon is totally redesigned to create the most up to date and impressive training salon in the country.
- A new centre for carpentry, plumbing and electrical installation students is created on premises in Anglian Lane.

1999 Phase 1 of the new building programme Gibraltar House (for Humanities, Health & Social Care) was opened by HRH The Duke of Gloucester.

1997 The new Learning Centre and Library complex, Mechatronics Centre, Students’ Common Room and Drama Studio were completed.

1995 Australia House and the Construction Centre were extended.

1988 Australia House phase 2 (for catering studies) was opened.

1984 Minden House (purpose built accommodation for students with learning difficulties and disabilities) was built.

1983 Australia House phase 1 (for Hairdressing and Beauty training) was opened.

1976 The Construction Training Centre was opened.

1975 The Motor Vehicle Training Centre was built.

1970 The Engineering Training Centre was built.

1969 Suffolk House for Business and Management Studies was opened.

1961 The College was officially opened by the Lord Lieutenant of Suffolk on 29 May 1961.

1958 The decision to build a new purpose built College on its own ground was taken and the Gibraltar Barracks site was chosen.

1951 The Bury St Edmunds Technical Institute opened its new site in the grounds of the Silver Jubilee School offering Engineering, Building and vocational evening classes.