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MidKent College

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Coordinates: 51°23′39″N 0°32′32″E / 51.39417°N 0.54222°E / 51.39417; 0.54222
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MidKent College
TypeFurther Education College
Established1887 (originally as a technical school)
Academic affiliation
University of Kent
StudentsApprox. 8,500 students (as of 2023)
Location
Gillingham, Kent (Medway Campus), Maidstone, Kent (Maidstone Campus)
,
United Kingdom
CampusMedway Campus, Maidstone Campus
WebsiteMidKent College Website

MidKent College (formerly Mid-Kent College of Higher and Further Education) is a further education college in Kent, England. It runs courses from two separate campuses in Maidstone and Medway, including a number of higher education courses.

There are approximately 8,500 students aged 16 years and upwards enrolled at the college. Courses offered range from pre-entry level to degree level and cover a wide range of vocational and academic subject areas.[1]

History

[edit]
The Duke of Edinburgh visits the college's electronics department as he opens the Horsted site

The college has been delivering vocational education in Medway and Maidstone for nearly 100 years. Its roots lie in the technical institutes established within the Medway towns in the 1890s and Maidstone around 1918.[2]

The college first began delivering courses from the Horsted Centre in Chatham in 1954.[3] The site was opened as Medway College of Technology[4] by the Duke of Edinburgh on 5 April the following year.[5]

Medway College of Technology and Maidstone Technical College amalgamated in 1966 to become Medway and Maidstone College of Technology.[6] The purpose-built City Way site in Rochester was subsequently opened as an additional college site in 1968.[7]

Students take part in the college Rag Day, 1951

The college changed its name to Mid-Kent College of Higher and Further Education in 1978,[8][9] before dropping the hyphen and space and the latter part of its title to become MidKent College in October 2008.

Throughout the 1950s, 60s and 70s, the college's students were famed for their Rag Day parade. This saw them conducting a carnival procession through the Medway Towns. The parade started at Gillingham train station and ended at the esplanade in Rochester. Each year the students elected their own "Rag Day Queen" to head the procession.

Campuses

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Gillingham (Medway) Campus

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The college's new Medway Campus

MidKent College's Medway Campus in Gillingham, located on Prince Arthur Road,[10] became the college’s main site[11] in September 2009, replacing the former Horsted and City Way campuses. The £86 million project,[12] mostly funded by the Learning and Skills Council, began construction in 2007. The campus was officially opened by Princess Anne on 25 March 2010.[13][14] The campus was designed to meet contemporary vocational training needs (including media, IT, science and engineering workshops) and won planning clearance after archaeological surveys. During construction, workers uncovered a unique Napoleonic-era “listening post” (a domed ‘igloo’ intended to detect tunnelling) which was carefully preserved in place.[15][16]

The Gillingham site lies on part of Chatham’s historic Great Lines defensive earthworks (the old “Lower Lines” field-of-fire). Planning documents note that the land had been “used by the military over the years for…[siege] works up to and including the First World War”.[17][18] Archaeological evidence of the old defences and training works remain on site (including ruins of small buildings and two brick cottages).[19] In recent decades, when not used as training grounds,[20] the overgrown tract served as council-owned open space (Lower Lines)[21] adjacent to Brompton Barracks.

Maidstone (Oakwood Park) Campus

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MidKent’s Maidstone Campus is based at Oakwood Park[22] (south of the town). In 2011 the college purchased the nearby University for the Creative Arts (UCA) campus on this site, integrating it into the college’s provision. Beginning in late 2012 the college began a £22 million refurbishment of Maidstone facilities to bring them up to modern standards.[23] Today the campus offers further and higher education courses (and even hosts a University Centre Maidstone for degree study).[24] In 2023, MidKent opened a new Green Skills Factory at the Maidstone campus (funded by the national Strategic Development Fund) – a centre for sustainable construction and energy efficiency training.[25]

Former Midkent College in City Way, Rochester in May 2009

Horsted (Chatham) Campus

[edit]
Former Midkent College in Horsted, Rochester in May 2009

The Horsted Centre (Chatham) was the original Medway campus of the college, opened in 1954[26] (first courses) and formally inaugurated in 1955. By the 2000s it was outdated; courses were moved out to the Gillingham campus in 2009. In planning documents from 2005, the Horsted site was approved for mixed residential redevelopment (outline permission for up to 336 homes and some community facilities).[27] The old Horsted buildings were cleared in 2014[28][29] and the site has since been redeveloped for housing.[30][31]

City Way (Rochester) Campus

[edit]

The City Way campus in Rochester opened in 1968 and served MidKent (then Mid-Kent) for decades. Like Horsted, it closed in 2009 when the new Gillingham campus opened. Planning permission was then granted to redevelop City Way for housing.[32] For example, an outline application approved in 2007 required 25% of the new homes to be “affordable” and included developer contributions for local schools and transport The site has since been built over (apart from a few buildings preserved elsewhere) and is now a residential area.[32]

Principal

[edit]

The current principal of MidKent College is Simon Cook,[33] who has held the position since July 2014 after the sad death of principal Sue McLeod.[34]

McLeod had previously worked across the Caribbean, United States and Europe during her time in the travel industry, including a stint aboard cruise liners. She had earlier achieved a degree in Business Studies at the Dorset Institute of Higher Education – now Bournemouth University – where she returned to study Travel and Tourism prior to embarking on her teaching career with MidKent College.[35]

In 2014 Sue McLeod was diagnosed with a brain tumour.[36] On 24 July 2014, MidKent College informed the public via social media that she had died, the statement stated "It is with great sadness that MidKent College announces the death of its much-loved principal Sue McLeod at the age of 53."[37]

Chief Executive

[edit]

The current chief executive of MidKent College is Simon Cook,[38] who has held the position since the retirement of previous CEO, Stephen Grix, in July 2016.[39]

Mr Grix first joined the college in 1971 when, having left school at age 15 with no formal qualifications,[40][41] he enrolled as a day-release bricklaying student at the old Horsted site in Chatham.[42] After 13 years in the trade he returned to study an education degree, followed by a master's degree in education management.

The father-of-three eventually went on to become principal of Sir George Monoux College in Walthamstow, north-east London, and then head of Ofsted's post-compulsory education division. Next was a role as director of education for the London borough of Tower Hamlets before Mr Grix returned to MidKent College as principal and chief executive in March 2005.

Once back at the place where he launched his career, Mr Grix took on the mammoth task of closing the college's dated Horsted and City Way sites and identifying funding opportunities for the new £86 million Medway Campus, which opened in 2009. He then turned his attention to improving the Maidstone Campus, which is currently undergoing a £23m redevelopment due for completion in December 2013.

In January 2013, Mr Grix announced he would step down as principal at the end of the academic year but continue as chief executive on a part-time basis until 2015. He was succeeded as principal by his former deputy Sue McLeod.

In June 2013 Mr Grix was appointed an OBE for services to further education in The Queen's Birthday Honours List.[43]

Mr Grix is also an executive director of MKC Training Services Ltd, which administers the college's contract to deliver training within the Royal School of Military Engineering at Brompton Barracks.

Affiliations

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MidKent College became an associate college of the University of Kent in 2001. The University of Kent validates the college's higher education programmes.[44]

Notable alumni

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ The Association of South East Colleges website Archived 4 December 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ MidKent College website
  3. ^ Chatham Observer, 12 March 1954
  4. ^ "Principal: Medway College of Technology | The National Archives". web.archive.org. 3 May 2025. Retrieved 3 May 2025.
  5. ^ Chatham, Rochester and Gillingham News, 8 April 1955
  6. ^ Kent Messenger newspaper 29 April 1966
  7. ^ Chatham, Rochester and Gillingham News 2 February 1968
  8. ^ "Mid-Kent College of Higher and Further Education: report from the Inspectorate (FEFC inspection report; 76/97 and 48/01) - Digital Education Resource Archive (DERA)". web.archive.org. 3 May 2025. Retrieved 3 May 2025.
  9. ^ Kent Messenger newspaper 4 August 1978
  10. ^ Horn, Jenni (19 May 2009). "Countdown to grand opening of Mid Kent College". Kent Online. Retrieved 3 May 2025.
  11. ^ "The college has two main campuses, one in Medway" MidKent College Self-Assessment Report 2009-10: Medway and Maidstone Campuses
  12. ^ "Three year contract with Mid-Kent College". C&M Online. Retrieved 3 May 2025.
  13. ^ Clarke, Sarah. "MidKent College in Gillingham is set to receive a visit from Princess Royal". Kent Online. Archived from the original on 3 May 2025.
  14. ^ "Video & Pictures: Princess Anne visits MidKent College". kentonline.co.uk. Archived from the original on 29 March 2012.
  15. ^ "MidKent College | RPS". web.archive.org. 3 May 2025. Retrieved 3 May 2025.
  16. ^ reporter, KentOnline (29 January 2009). "New Mid Kent College campus nears completion". Kent Online. Retrieved 3 May 2025.
  17. ^ "Great Lines, Gillingham (Hansard, 15 December 1986)". web.archive.org. 3 May 2025. Retrieved 3 May 2025.
  18. ^ Medway Council (19 September 2005). Medway Council – Final Planning Applications and Background Papers (19 September 2005, 72 pages). p. 53.
  19. ^ Medway Council (19 September 2005). Medway Council – Final Planning Applications and Background Papers (19 September 2005, 72 pages). p. 53.
  20. ^ "TQ 76 NE 1311 - Public Park: Admiral's Gardens/Lower Lines - Historic Environment Record". web.archive.org. 3 May 2025. Retrieved 3 May 2025.
  21. ^ "TQ 76 NE 1311 - Public Park: Admiral's Gardens/Lower Lines - Historic Environment Record". web.archive.org. 3 May 2025. Retrieved 3 May 2025.
  22. ^ "MidKent College, Maidstone Campus, Oakwood Park" Minutes of SELEP Accountability Board Meeting – 16 February 2024
  23. ^ "In July 2012, the College completed the purchase of the University of the Creative Arts centre on the Maidstone campus, with a view to developing the building as a bespoke higher education centre from September 2013." QAA Review Report 2013: Higher Education at MidKent College
  24. ^ "The college has a wide range of academic and vocational programmes from entry level to degree level." FEFC Inspection Report: Mid-Kent College of Higher and Further Education, 2000–01
  25. ^ "Skills training to be transformed with innovative projects - GOV.UK". web.archive.org. 3 May 2025. Retrieved 3 May 2025.
  26. ^ "The Horsted Centre, Chatham, was opened in 1954" FOMA Issue 73A5
  27. ^ Medway Council (31 December 2010). MC/11/0001 – Mid Kent College Site Redevelopment (336 Homes, Employment & Phase 1 Detail) | Medway Council.
  28. ^ "Crews tackled blaze at former Midkent College – City Way". Kent Online. 28 May 2010. Retrieved 9 August 2014.
  29. ^ "The Horsted Centre, Chatham, was opened in 1954, but was demolished in 2014" Friends of Medway Archives Journal – Issue 73
  30. ^ "Agenda item - Planning application MC/15/0335 - Horsted Park (Phase 2) Former Mid Kent College Site, Maidstone Road, Chatham Kent ME1 2XQ | Medway Council". web.archive.org. 3 May 2025. Retrieved 3 May 2025.
  31. ^ "Horsted Park | Kent Design". web.archive.org. 3 May 2025. Retrieved 3 May 2025.
  32. ^ a b "New homes at Horsted Park, Chatham". Kent Online. 1 August 2014. Retrieved 9 August 2014.
  33. ^ "Simon Cook, Principal of Mid Kent College" Kent and Medway Skills Commission: 2016/17 Priorities and Outcomes – Update Report to Growth, Economic Development and Communities Cabinet Committee (19 January 2017)
  34. ^ "'Much-loved' MidKent College principal Sue McLeod dies, aged 53". web.archive.org. 14 August 2022. Retrieved 3 May 2025.
  35. ^ "College principal Sue McLeod | MidKent College". www.midkent.ac.uk. Retrieved 3 May 2025.
  36. ^ "Tributes to inspirational education champion Sue McLeod". Kent Online. 24 July 2014. Retrieved 3 May 2025.
  37. ^ "College principal Sue McLeod | MidKent College". www.midkent.ac.uk. Retrieved 3 May 2025.
  38. ^ "Simon Cook: Good morning everybody. I am Simon Cook, the Principal and Chief Executive of MidKent College." House of Commons Education Committee – Oral Evidence: Reform of Level 3 Qualifications (HC 428, 3 December 2024)
  39. ^ Edwards, Jade (4 July 2016). "Chief executive of MidKent College Stephen Grix retires after 11 years". Kent Online. Retrieved 3 May 2025.
  40. ^ Staff, Guardian (8 March 2005). "Brickie makes good on college foundations". the Guardian. Retrieved 3 May 2025.
  41. ^ "Origins and Evolution of the CASLO Approach in England - Chapter 2: Pre-history - GOV.UK". web.archive.org. 3 May 2025. Retrieved 3 May 2025.
  42. ^ "Mr Grix from Higham, Kent, who first joined the college in 1971 as a day-release bricklaying student at the former City Way campus in Chatham. “I had a tough time at school and left at 15 with no formal qualifications," FE Week - Issue 71
  43. ^ "Queen's birthday honours list 2013: OBE". The Guardian. 14 June 2013. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 3 May 2025.
  44. ^ "The University of Kent website". Archived from the original on 9 March 2009. Retrieved 20 May 2009.
  45. ^ KOS Media (14 December 2008). Kent on Sunday (North & West), December 14, 2008.
  46. ^ "Mosunmola Abudu a.k.a. Mo Abudu – DAWN Commission". Retrieved 3 May 2025.
  47. ^ "FE students add to Team GB Olympic medal haul". FE Week. 12 August 2016. Retrieved 22 August 2016.
  48. ^ "Jack Green, OLY - Brand And Commercial Advisor at Walking on Earth". THE ORG. Retrieved 3 May 2025.
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51°23′39″N 0°32′32″E / 51.39417°N 0.54222°E / 51.39417; 0.54222

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