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Farnborough College of Technology

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Coordinates:51°17′08″N0°44′56″W/ 51.2856°N 0.7490°W/51.2856; -0.7490
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Farnborough College of Technology
TypePublic
Established1957[1]
Academic affiliation
Aldershot College
University Centre Farnborough
University of Surrey
PrincipalVirginia Barrett
Studentsc. 8000 [2]
Location
Farnborough, Hampshire,England

51°17′08″N0°44′56″W/ 51.2856°N 0.7490°W/51.2856; -0.7490
CampusUrban
ColoursOrangeandNavy
Websitewww.farn-ct.ac.uk

Farnborough College of Technologyis a college located in the town ofFarnborough, Hampshirein theSouth Eastof England. Although primarily afurther educationcollege, Farnborough College of Technology also has a University centre (University Centre Farnborough), which offers a range ofhigher educationcourses accredited by theUniversity of Surrey.[3]

Farnborough College of Technology has a second campus located in the town ofAldershot, Hampshirein theSouth Eastof England, known as Aldershot College.[3]

In 2011, Farnborough College of Technology was rated 'Outstanding' byOfsted.[4]

History

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1.1 Farnborough College of Technology

The roots of the college date back to 1913, when the War Office authorised classes to be held at theRoyal Aircraft Factory,based atFarnborough Airfield.In 1944 this became an independenttechnical schoolknown as the Royal Aircraft Establishment's Technical College. In 1957, a separate college known as Farnborough Tech was established on an adjacent area of land. In 1960, the RAE Technical School merged with Farnborough Tech to form Farnborough College of Technology.[3]

In 1967, engineering students from the college staged an elaborate hoax by placing six modelflying saucersacross southern England as arag weekstunt. The emergency and military services took them seriously for some hours. The hoax was only made public byThe National Archivesin 2011.[5][6][7]

Today, Farnborough College of Technology offers a range ofqualification levels,including:

1.2 Aldershot College

In 2005, Farnborough College of Technology purchased a site inAldershot,Hampshireand Aldershot College was formed.[8]Aldershot College specialises inconstructioncourses and offersfurtherandhigher educationcourses, andapprenticeships.[3]

1.3 University Centre Farnborough

In 2013, the University Centre Farnborough was launched, offeringUniversity of Surreyaccredited degrees from the Farnborough College of Technology main campus.

The college constructed a University Centre building on the main campus in 2016.[9]The building is home to a library, study areas, and aStarbucksfranchise aItwas officially opened by theDuke of Kentin November 2017.[10]

University Centre Farnborough offersfoundation degrees,undergraduate degrees,including two-year fast-track degrees, and top-up degrees.

Farnborough College of Technology's Aerospace and Automotive Academy

Facilities

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The main campus is at Boundary Road, Farnborough prand ovides vocational training and education. Specialist teaching facilities include The Gallery Restaurant, The Hair and Beauty Academy salon, Beyond Fitness Gym, The Aerospace and Automotive Academy, a performance theatre, a floristry studio, a photography studio and dark room, a multi-camera television studio, and two radio studios.[3]The salon, restaurant and floristry studio operate commercially and are open to the public.

The college radio studios are used for 26 days in March each year to broadcast FCOT FM 87.7, the college's commercial radio station which operates under aRestricted Service Licence.

The main campus also has an on-site Ofsted-registered nursery (Bookworms Nursery), which provides childcare for the children of students, staff and local families.[11]

Structure

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The academic activities of the college are divided into five academic faculties:

  • Academic Studies
  • Engineering, Construction and Commercial Service
  • Enterprise, Creative and Sport
  • Preparation for Work and Life Skills
  • Higher Education

Notable alumni

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Former students of the college include FormerNBAplayerJoel Freelandand musicianMike Rutherfordof the bandsGenesisandMike + The Mechanics,as well asDiane Youdaleand Mark Griffin who appeared in theBritishtelevision seriesGladiatorsas Jet and Trojan respectively.[2]DJAnnie Macearned aMaster's Degreein Radio at FCOT, before going on to have her own show onBBC Radio 1.[12]In an interview, she referred to her time at Farnborough as "the biggest culture-shock [she'd] ever experienced in [her] life".[13]Musician and authorAlan Claysonstudied at FCOT from 1968 to 1970.[citation needed]

Three members ofThe Football Ramble,the largest independentpodcastin the UK studied at the college. Luke Moore, Marcus Speller and Jim Campbell all met at FCOT and studied there between 2000 and 2003. Moore and Speller both featured on the college radio station, co-hosting the Saturday Sports Show.

David Wellsis most famous for working as a medium for the British paranormal investigation TV programmeMost Haunted.Wells studied at FCOT, undertaking an HND in Leisure and Tourism.[14]In Series 5 ofMost Haunted Live!Access All Areas, Wells mentions he did a piece on both theKings Theatrein Southsea, and on theNew Theatre Royalin Portsmouth, as part of his HND at FCOT.[15]

References

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  1. ^"Celebrating 50 Years in Education".Farnborough College of Technology. Archived fromthe originalon 6 September 2009.Retrieved25 August2009.
  2. ^ab"Farnborough College of Technology".The Independent.London. 19 June 2009.Retrieved30 September2009.
  3. ^abcde"Farnborough College of Technology guide".The Telegraph.5 August 2016.ISSN0307-1235.Retrieved15 February2018.
  4. ^Ofsted Communications Team. (5 November 2010)."Find an inspection report".reports.ofsted.gov.uk.Retrieved15 February2018.
  5. ^UFO files: threat of alien invasion taken seriously by military,Daily Telegraph,3 March 2011
  6. ^https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-12631966 UFO files released by government,BBC News, 3 March 2011 (video)
  7. ^Gupta, Tanya (3 September 2017)."The great saucer invasion: The day six 'spaceships' landed in England".BBC News.Retrieved3 September2017.
  8. ^Ltd, IMMAT."Aldershot College".www.ihampshire.co.uk.Retrieved15 February2018.
  9. ^Smith, Joshua (14 February 2017)."Farnborough College of Technology set for £16 million investment".gethampshire.Retrieved15 February2018.
  10. ^"Duke officially opens college's new building".Farnham Herald.Retrieved15 February2018.
  11. ^Ofsted Communications Team. (5 November 2010)."Find an inspection report".reports.ofsted.gov.uk.Retrieved15 February2018.
  12. ^"Annie Mac: Young, gifted and credible".The Independent.London. 22 December 2008.Retrieved30 September2009.
  13. ^"Radio 1's Annie finally gets her place in the sun".The Independent.London. 7 April 2008.Retrieved30 September2009.
  14. ^Neil, Beth (27 June 2009)."The Mirror's new astrologer David Wells reveals why his past helps shape how he sees your future".The Mirror.MGN Limited.Retrieved10 April2018.
  15. ^Haunted, Most."Most Haunted Live - Panic in Portsmouth (Access All Areas)".Youtube.Youtube.Archivedfrom the original on 21 December 2021.Retrieved10 April2018.
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