With a history dating back beyond a century, South Essex College has managed to gradually develop to become a respectable institution for students looking to study both within and outside of higher education.
Choosing not to limit itself to one thing, the college has taken up the tough, but noble task of offering further education, higher education, adult education, and other course varieties, allowing a diverse selection of students the opportunity to pursue their own unique paths of study from a single institution.
The college, like many other institutions in the UK, first established itself as an art school in 1899. This was followed by its establishment as a Technical School, before later taking up industrial and commercial subjects, becoming the South Essex College of Arts and Technology in 1991.
However, it was only in 2004, that the college was renamed to include their further education options, officially becoming South Essex College of Further and Higher Education.
Since then, the college has taken on the responsibility of offering education to students from as young as the age of 16, to adult students, welcoming all who seek the knowledge that they can provide.
The variety of courses offered are divided among the following subjects:
- Accounting
- Adult General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE)
- Art and Design
- Bespoke Training
- Business Administration and Management
- CompEx
- Counselling
- English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), English as a Foreign Language (EFL), International English Language Testing System (IELTS)
- Electrical
- Employability
- Engineering and Construction
- Fashion
- Hair, Beauty and Complementary Therapies
- Health and Safety
- Health, Social Care and Childcare
- Hospitality and Catering
- Information Technology
- Languages
- Logistics and Transport
- Media
- Motor Vehicle
- Music
- Performing Arts
- Plumbing
- Public Services
- Public Services
- Science and Animal Care
- Sport
- Teaching and Training
- Travel and Tourism
Many of these subjects can be pursued at different qualification levels including further education (where students aged 16-18 can attain a diploma or certificate upon completion), and higher education (where one can earn a degree qualification upon completion).
Furthermore, for adult students who do not quite qualify to pursue higher education studies, the college also offers courses that, upon completion, will give them the necessary foundational qualifications to pursue specific subjects at a higher education level.
These courses are known as Access to Higher Education courses, and include the following:
- Access to Higher Education (Psychology and Sociology) Level 3 Diploma
- Access to Higher Education (Art and Design) Level 3 Diploma
- Access to Higher Education (Nursing and Midwifery) Level 3 Diploma
- Access to Higher Education (Counselling) Level 3 Diploma
- Access to Higher Education (Business Management) Level 3 Diploma
- Access to Higher Education (Forensics and Criminology) Level 3 Diploma
- Access to Higher Education (Science) Level 3 Diploma
- Access to Higher Education (Education and Counselling) Level 3 Diploma
- Access to Higher Education (Health and Social Care) Level 3 Diploma
If that were not enough, the college also offers students the opportunity to enrol for a selection of apprenticeships, which include the following:
- Business Administrator Apprenticeship Level 3
- Customer Service Practitioner Apprenticeship Level 2
- Electrical Installation Apprenticeship Level 3
- Engineering Machinist Apprenticeship Level 3
- Engineering (Mechatronics Pathway) Apprenticeship Level 3
- Information Communication Technician Apprenticeship Level 3
- International Freight Forwarding Specialist Apprenticeship Level 3
- Maintenance and Operation Engineering Technician Apprenticeship
- Maritime Engineering Technician Apprenticeship Level 3
- Motor Vehicle Services and Maintenance Technician (Light Vehicle) Apprenticeship Level 3
- Operation/Departmental Manager Apprenticeship Level 5
- Plumbing and Domestic Heating Technician (Day Release) Apprenticeship Level 3
- Supply Chain Large Goods Vehicle Driver Apprenticeship Level 2
- Supply Chain Operator (Traffic Office Pathway) Apprenticeship Level 2
- Teaching Assistant Apprenticeship Level 3
- Team Leader/ Supervisor Apprenticeship Level 3
- Welding Apprenticeship Level 2
These courses and apprenticeships can be pursued at both a part-time and full-time level. Thus, as can be seen, the college prioritises both students’ freedom of choice with its variety of qualification types available at once, whilst also prioritising student flexibility, offering students of different ages and backgrounds the possibility to study either on a part-time or full-time basis according to their personal schedules.
Finally, the college also offers their recently launched, innovative T Level courses, which provide its students with both practical and theoretical learning, combining classroom study with on-the-job learning.
This scheme performs as part of an industry placement that is made to prepare students for industry work right out of their studies.
The T Levels, which can be said to function as A-Levels for technical studies include:
- Digital Production, Design and Development
- Digital Support Services
- Education and Childcare
- Health
- Maintenance, Installation and Repair for Engineering and Manufacturing
- Management and Administration (Business Support)
- On-Site Construction
With all that the college has to offer in mind, it becomes clear that South Essex College is the place to go to be able to pursue courses that range from school-leaving to high education, to adult education, to apprenticeships and more. Those who take interest in this educational model can visit South Essex College’s official website here.
