Blackpool Sixth Form College

The Blackpool Sixth Form College serves the Fylde and surrounding areas of the county of Lancashire, England. The college has around 1,900 full-time students. The college offers academic and applied programmes to a wide range of students aged between 16 and 19.

The campus is sited in the Highfurlong district of Blackpool. This places it on Blackpool's extreme eastern boundary, about 3 miles from the coast and close to the neighbouring town of Poulton-le-Fylde. Despite being some distance from the town centre, the college is easily reached by road and rail (in fact there are two railway stations close by). The college's locality is somewhat less urban than the busy, built-up centre of Blackpool.

Over 50 subjects are available to full-time students. Until 2004, the college specialised in the A-level qualification almost exclusively and A-levels still make up the majority of the courses on offer. The curriculum areas cover the traditional subjects - arts, sciences, languages, economics and mathematics - as well as more modern courses like Media and Film Studies and social sciences.

Students can also participate in wide range of recreational activities. The college has 17 sports teams, and also a basketball academy and a very active Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme.

Blackpool Sixth Form, constantly ranks among the top state colleges in the country. It consistently achieves a 99% pass rate and outscores some private colleges in the area.

The college was opened in 1971 as a dedicated sixth form centre for the nearby Collegiate Grammar School, although it has always attracted students from other schools across the Fylde and beyond. (A few of the tutors who started in 1971 are still teaching at the college and a considerable number of the staff are former students.) In 1989, the sixth form centre controversially separated from the main school to become a fully independent college. Since then, the number of students has increased enormously and the campus has been extended by several new buildings.

2004 saw the opening of the new Performing Arts building, the Holland building, comprising specialist music and dance facilities, new Social Sciences and History accommodation and extensions to the Library and Common Room areas.

In 2005 the Dining Room was refurbished, a shop was added and a Student Services centre was opened. All College buildings are designated as 'no smoking' for students and staff. At present (2011) the College is undergoing major refurbishment and a radical overhaul of its image. They have recently unveiled a new logo, whilst opening a Starbucks franchise.

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Wikipedia