Sussex Downs College

Infobox School
name = Sussex Downs College
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caption = Sussex Downs College Logo
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streetaddress = Headquarters: Cross Levels Way
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city = Eastbourne
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county = East Sussex
postcode = BN23 6DP
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country = GBR
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principal = John Blake
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staff = 1400
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ofsted = 133435
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gender = Coeducational
lower_age = 16
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revenue = £38m+
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budget = £40m
enrolment = 6220 full time; 14400 part time
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language = English
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campus = Eastbourne, Lewes, Denton Island, Wealden Skills Centre, Hailsham
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campus type = Urban
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athletics = Football, tennis, track & field
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motto = Putting Students First
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nickname = SDC
school_colours = Green, blue
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established = November 2001
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homepage = http://www.sussexdowns.ac.uk

Sussex Downs College (SDC) is a large further education (FE) college in the South East of England. It has campuses in Eastbourne, Lewes, Newhaven and Uckfield. It was formed from the merger of three smaller colleges in the region - Lewes Sixth Form College, Park Sixth Form College and Eastbourne College of Arts and Technology (more recently known as Eastbourne Vocational College).

Although there was primarily some speculation over a successful merger Sussex Downs College has since proved itself of exceptional standard, achieving CoVE status (Certificate of Vocational Excellence) an award that very few other colleges have managed to attain.

College Offer

By offering provision for 16-19s, adults, international students and some courses in Higher Education, the college attracts people from all walks of life. Although functioning as one college the ethos of the individual campuses remains the same giving the students an individual choice as to how they learn, yet the security of a vastly equipped support network.

Funded via the Learning and Skills Council, the college offers Apprenticeships, Train to Gain, Skills for life and traditional college delivery alongside commercial courses such as minute taking, training in common software packages and full cost NVQs. The range of subjects offered by the college is highly diverse as it stretches from GCSEs and A levels in a majority of academic subjects, to vocational courses in areas such as hairdressing, motor vehicle and business administration. Learners have several options with regards to attendance- full time, part time, day release (one day a week), evening classes and work-based delivery.

The Office for Standards in Education describes the college's programmes as follows:

: "The college has provision in all the areas of learning defined by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC). The most significant areas of learning in terms of student enrolments: are science and mathematics; business; information and communications technology (ICT); health and social care; visual and performing arts; humanities; English, languages and communication; and foundation programmes. Work-based learning has recently been introduced in a wide range of vocational areas, including business, construction, engineering, hairdressing and beauty therapy, and health and social care. The college is designated as a Centre of Vocational Excellence for the performing arts and entertainment industries. In 2000/01, the college had 3,080 full-time students aged 16 to 18, 809 full-time adult students and 12,782 part-time adult students. Some 82% of students classify themselves as white. The proportion of students from minority ethnic groups is small and reflects the composition of the local population. Female students made up 63% of the student population in 2000/01."

chool ranking

For the year 2004, Sussex Downs College received an A/AS-level performance ranking from the Department for Education and Skills of 228.2, below the national average of 269.2.This ranking should dramatically improve given the College's recent success of obtaining at an A level pass rate of 98.6% in its 2006 [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/education/04/school_tables/secondary_schools/html/845_8009.stm Ofsted Report]

Criticism

The college has a wealth of modern, spacious buildings across the three campuses, however there remain a number of inadequate facilities, such as Park College in Eastbourne. Previous students have complained of substantial overcrowding in the corridors and social areas as well as cramped teaching spaces and not nearly enough ICT resources. The college is however in the process of upgrading and constructing new buildings. The college at lewes has many of the same problems and the numerous eatiries become crowded quickly at lunch time.

Tutors

The tutors at sussex downs are nice and very helpful students get 1:1 support with them every quarter. This creates a good atmosphere amongst students in the fact you know if there is somebody to talk to if there is a need.

External links

* [http://www.sussexdowns.ac.uk Sussex Downs College Web Site]
* [http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/reports/manreports/850.htm Evaluation by the Adult Learning Inspectorate, Office for Standards in Education]