Bexley College
Bexley College was a general further education college in the London Borough of Bexley, England with two campuses at Walnut Tree Road, Erith and Upper Holly Hill Road, Belvedere. On 1 August 2016, Bexley College merged with Bromley College of Further & Higher Education and Greenwich Community College to become London South East Colleges, Bexley Campus.
History
It was built in 1906 to a design by architect William Egerton, and then opened in 1907 as 'Erith Technical Institute'.[1] It is on the residential Erith Road, on the last part of the ridge, in the east of the district on the border of Erith, at the junction of Erith Road and Upper Holly Hill Road. The building was for a time shared with Erith County School.[2]
It was formerly known as Erith College of Technology (ECOT) running Ordinary National Diplomas OND in Technology & Ordinary National Certificates ONC as well as Higher National Certificates HNC in Electrical & Electronic Engineering alongside A Levels and other vocational courses in Mechanical Engineering, Beauty, Hairdressing, Management and Construction.
In 1971, a new campus was built on Tower Road in Belvedere and became known as Bexley College in 1993. The Grade II listed Holly Hill Campus offers engineering and construction courses.
In 2014, the new main campus opened in Erith town centre, near to the station in Stonewood Road / Walnut Tree Road. The previous main campus at Tower Road in Belvedere was closed and as of October 2014 is being redeveloped by the new owners to provide housing.
Former campuses
The former St Joseph's Campus at 269 Woolwich Road (A206) near Bostall Heath in Abbey Wood used to be the St Joseph's Convent Grammar School (a Catholic girls' school) until 1979; there also was the Main Road campus in Sidcup. Both sites were sold off for housing developments principally to earn revenue for the College.
In 2014 Tower Road Campus became a 'former campus' with the opening of the new one in Erith Town Centre. The old site was also sold off for housing developments to help pay for the new modern campus in Erith.
London South East Colleges, Bexley Campus
On 1 August 2016, Bexley College merged with Bromley College of Further & Higher Education and Greenwich Community College to become London South East Colleges, Bexley Campus. It provides career-focused vocational training and skills development for young people and adults.
London South East Colleges is the trading name of Bromley College of Further and Higher Education.
Course structure
London South East Colleges, Bexley Campus offers career focused vocational courses for young people and adults, Access to Higher Education, SEND, Apprenticeships, Professional development and Higher Education (University level) courses. Many of the Higher Education courses are run in conjunction with the University of Greenwich.[3]
Course areas
Access to Higher Education & Professional Development, Art & Design, Digital and Creative Media, Photography, ICT, Higher Education (University level courses), Foundation Studies (Special Educational Needs), Graphic Design, ESOL (English as a Second Language), Childcare, Media, Teacher Training, Business, Law, Social Work, Health and Humanities, Bricklaying, Apprenticeships, Carpentry & Joinery, Gas Pipe Fitting, Multi Skills, Plumbing and Electrical.
Alumni
- Sam Bailey
- Neal Lawson
- H. E. Merritt (1899-1974), engineer
- Linda Smith, stand-up comic and Radio 4 and BBC2 comedian[4]
Former St Joseph's Convent Grammar School
- Kate Bush CBE, musician famous for Wuthering Heights, where she studied piano and violin
- Jan Leeming (née Atkins), stalwart 1980s and 1990s newsreader on BBC News
Former lecturers
- David Evennett, Conservative MP for Bexleyheath and Crayford and former MP for Erith and Crayford from 1983–97
Other notes
The E4 drama Misfits is filmed in Thamesmead. Many scenes take place around Southmere Lake and Bexley College was once also used as a setting.[5]
The Walnut Tree Road campus in Erith was built to be eco friendly with biomass boilers, LED lighting and rainwater flushing for the toilets.
References
- "Bexley College (Former Erith Technical Institute) Including Attached Walls Railings and Gatepiers, Bexley". www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk. Retrieved 22 December 2013.
- "Technical Institute, Belvedere 1930". Bexley Borough Photos. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
- Bexley College Staff
- "Linda Smith - Obituary". The Daily Telegraph. 1 March 2006. Retrieved 13 November 2016.
- Thamesmead teens meet E4's Bafta-winning Misfits (From News Shopper)