The Blackpool Sixth Form College is a

co-educational Mixed-sex education, also known as mixed-gender education, co-education, or coeducation (abbreviated to co-ed or coed), is a system of education where males and females are educated together. Whereas single-sex education was more common up to ...

state funded

sixth form college A sixth form college (pre-university college in Malaysia) is an educational institution, where students aged 16 to 19 study typically for advanced post-school level qualifications such as GCE Advanced Level, A Levels, Business and Technology Edu ...

serving the Fylde and surrounding areas in

Lancashire Lancashire ( , ; abbreviated ''Lancs'') is a ceremonial county in North West England. It is bordered by Cumbria to the north, North Yorkshire and West Yorkshire to the east, Greater Manchester and Merseyside to the south, and the Irish Sea to ...

, England. The college has around 2,000 full-time students. It offers academic and applied programmes to a wide range of students aged between 16 and 19.

Location

The campus is sited in the Highfurlong district of

Blackpool Blackpool is a seaside town in Lancashire, England. It is located on the Irish Sea coast of the Fylde peninsula, approximately north of Liverpool and west of Preston, Lancashire, Preston. It is the main settlement in the Borough of Blackpool ...

. This places it on Blackpool's extreme eastern boundary, about from the coast and close to the neighbouring town of

Poulton-le-Fylde Poulton-le-Fylde (), commonly shortened to Poulton, is a market town in Lancashire, England, situated on the coastal plain called the Fylde. In the 2021 United Kingdom census, it had a population of 18,115. There is evidence of human habitatio ...

Education and college life

Over sixty A-levels are available to full-time students. Until 2004, the college specialised in the A-level qualification almost exclusively; however, the college has gradually introduced BTECs for students to take at the same level. The curriculum areas cover the traditional academic subjects—arts, sciences, languages, economics and mathematics—as well as more modern courses, such as film and television production and criminology. The college's performing arts and music students frequently deliver productions in the college theatre, which can seat 300 guests. Students can also participate in wide range of recreational activities. The college has seventeen sports teams, and also a basketball academy and a Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme.

History

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. 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 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 2011, Blackpool Sixth Form College was also awarded Teaching School Status in partnership with nearby Hodgson Academy. Building works, which began in 2011, were finished in Summer 2015, after £29 million was spent on the project.

Principals

There have been seven principals in the college's history: * Joan Wilkinson (1971–1983) * Robert Farrand (1983–1989) * Christopher Fulford (1989–2000) * Jeffrey Holland (2000–2004) * Felicity Greeves (2004–2015) * Jill Gray (2015–2024) * Nicola Craven (2024–)

The Blackpool Sixth Form College Alumni Society

The college has an Alumni Society for former students, staff and governors.

Notable former students

Barney Harwood Barnaby John Harwood (born 7 November 1979) is a British actor and television presenter. He is known for his work with CBBC beginning in 2002. Career Television For CBBC, Harwood presented '' Prank Patrol'' and was a voice-over commentator for ...

, children's television presenter *

Dan Forshaw Dan Forshaw (born 19 May 1981) is an English jazz musician and music educator who started his career aged sixteen. He plays the tenor saxophone, tenor, soprano saxophone, soprano and alto saxophone and has also recorded on bass clarinet and the ...

, musician *

Little Boots Victoria Christina Hesketh (born 4 May 1984), known professionally as Little Boots, is an English singer-songwriter and DJ. She was previously a member of the band Dead Disco. Since performing as a solo artist, she has released four albums: ''H ...

(Victoria Hesketh), musician * John Robb, musician * Lucy Fallon, actress * Justine Moore, paralympic fencer

References

External links

Blackpool Sixth Form College website
{{authority control Sixth form colleges in Lancashire Buildings and structures in Blackpool Education in Blackpool Educational institutions established in 1971 1971 establishments in England