Vision West Nottinghamshire College is the trading name of West Nottinghamshire College, a further education college having two main campuses in Mansfield, with smaller sites at nearby Sutton-in-Ashfield and Kirkby-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, England. Telegraph. Vision West Nottinghamshire College guide. Retrieved 31 December 2013
The main college campus is the Derby Road campus on the south edge of Mansfield; the Chesterfield Road campus is in Mansfield town centre. There are other sites and further affiliated outreach venues in the Mansfield and Ashfield area and the largely urban corridor along the M1 motorway route between the counties of Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire.
The College of Further Education was formed in the 1970s by combining elements of an old Technical College dating back to 1928 'Our Mansfield and Area' website administered by Mansfield District Council Museum Annals of Mansfield – 'Timeline' "24 October 1928. The Mansfield Technical College, Chesterfield Road South, was officially opened by Lord Chelmsford" Retrieved 31 December 2013 and adjacent College of Arts dating from 1930 'Our Mansfield and Area' website administered by Mansfield District Council Museum Annals of Mansfield – 'Timeline' "19 November 1930. The Nottinghamshire County School of Art, at the rear of the Technical College, was officially opened by Mr. T. L. K. Edge" Retrieved 31 December 2013 in Mansfield town centre with a newer, main Technical College established in 1960 at a large development on former farmland at Derby Road, on the outskirts of Mansfield. 'Our Mansfield and Area' website administered by Mansfield District Council Museum Annals of Mansfield – 'Timeline' "15 November 1960. West Nottinghamshire Technical College, Derby Road, officially opened by Mr. (later Lord) Alfred Robens" Retrieved 31 December 2013Ofsted Retrieved 12 October 2010 Both sites remain in use, and the college provides dedicated shuttle buses from the different sites.
College As of 2018, the college's website quoted 26,000 students including apprentices. It offers further education to about 19,000 students in full- and part-time education including courses for 14- to 16-year-olds in collaboration with local schools. The programmes include the majority of 'A' Level courses, access to higher education, and vocational apprenticeships which include bricklaying, plumbing, carpentry, gas fitting, painting and decorating, construction management, driving passenger vehicles, forklift truck driving and railway engineering.wnc press release Retrieved 12 October 2010 A variety of community and adult courses is also provided across the local area. The college has a Centre of Vocational Excellence (CoVE) status for engineering, specialised construction, logistics and care. A 2008 Ofsted report accorded the school Grade 1 (outstanding) on all inspection points, but at the 2012 inspection the college ratings lowered from Outstanding to good overall with some satisfactory areas and some inadequate.
Name changes After opening as a newly built Technical College in 1960, the Derby Road site became locally known as Derby Road Tech. West Nottinghamshire College of Further Education was founded in 1976 as the result of a merger of West Nottinghamshire Technical College1973 Mansfield Directory, Street Plan and Guide, published by Linney of Mansfield. p.29 and p.108 West Nottinghamshire Technical College, Derby Road, Mansfield. Principal: Mr R. F. Beaton and Mansfield College of Art (sometimes called College of Arts),1973 Mansfield Directory, Street Plan and Guide, published by Linney of Mansfield. p.71 College of Arts, Chesterfield Road South, Mansfield. Principal: Mr E. S. Morton previously Mansfield School of Arts."Students and staff celebrate art school memories", West Nottinghamshire College, 27 June 2014. Accessed 11 January 2015.
A change in the law – the Further and Higher Education Act 1992 – allowed colleges to become Incorporated and run semi-autonomously, in this case becoming the Corporation of West Nottinghamshire College, West Nottinghamshire College. Report and Financial Statements for the period ending 31 July 2011. Retrieved 31 December 2013 with finances changing from local authority control to that of the Further Education Funding Council in April 1993. 'Our Mansfield and Area' website administered by Mansfield District Council Museum Annals of Mansfield – 'Timeline' "1993, 1 April. West Nottinghamshire College was transferred from local authority control to that of the Further Education Funding Council." Retrieved 26 January 2014
The college renamed itself Vision West Notts in September 2011. Shortly after, however, the college adopted its current trading name of Vision West Nottinghamshire College.
The formal title is West Nottinghamshire College, as cited in the Ofsted report of June 2012, although it is often referred to as 'West Notts College'.
Campuses
As the largest campus, Derby Road offers a wide range of courses and facilities to university-level, and is also home to a 150-seat theatre.
A 'Lifestyle Academy' at Derby Road costing £11m which opened in 2014 offering courses for hairdressing, beauty treatments, holistic therapies and catering, won a Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) award."Top marks for college design" Chad, 14 May 2014, p.36. Accessed 9 March 2024 It is also home to the Vision University Centre which provides Higher Education and professional qualifications.
The Construction Centre at Kirkby-in-Ashfield is a specialist facility providing a training environment for construction students.
The Engineering Innovation Centre at Sutton-in-Ashfield is a specialist hub for students of mechanical and electrical engineering and motor vehicle maintenance at various levels
Vision University Centre
The University Centre, originally affiliated to the University of Derby and Birmingham City University, was created by converting the Sherwood Care building during 2013 at a cost of £30K. Intended as a higher-education (HE) facility, the official opening in February 2014 was conducted by the Duke of Devonshire, the 12th Duke, in his role of Chancellor of the University of Derby."Duke helps launch new college centre". Chad, 12 February 2014, p.15. Accessed 30 May 2026
After approval by local planning department in 2015,"University plan is a step closer". Chad, 1 July 2015, pp.40-41. Accessed 9 February 2025 a £6.5 million dedicated new building on the Derby Road site was constructed in 2016 to better-enable higher education provision. It was part-funded by a D2N2 grant of £2.6 million.Counting down days to opening of university. Chad, 7 September 2016, p.20. Accessed 9 January 2022University Vision realised with D2N2 help D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership, 4 November 2016. Retrieved 9 January 2022University welcomes first students. Chad, 2 November 2016, p.12. Accessed 31 January 2022
A collaboration with Nottingham Trent University has enabled the College to offer foundation degree courses in several academic, health and technological sectors.NTU in Mansfield West Nottinghamshire College. Retrieved 9 January 2022
Vision Studio School First mooted in 2012,"West Notts unveils new 'school' plans". Chad, 28 November 2012, p.13. Accessed 13 June 2022 in 2013 the college announced a new studio school based at the Chesterfield Road site,Studio school plans move step closer West Nottinghamshire College, 6 March 2013. Retrieved 26 January 2019Vision Studio School. Have your say. "The Department for Education has approved Vision Studio School to enter into a pre-opening phase, with the intention that the first studio school for Nottinghamshire will be open from September 2014." Chad, 25 September 2013, p.29. Accessed 28 January 2022 to provide education for 300 year 10 to year 13 pupils (ages 14 to 19),Studio school’s new chief outlines "bold new approach" to learning West Nottinghamshire College About us, 9 September 2013. Retrieved 26 January 2019Vision Studio School nottshelpyourself.org, February 2017. Retrieved 26 January 2019 with a 9-to-5 working day to mirror commercial practices and having a slant towards work placements and training.Pioneering new school opens its doors West Nottinghamshire College, 9 September 2014. Retrieved 26 January 2019 In conjunction with the participation of local businesses and organisations, it was intended to be a stepping stone between education and employment. The school was officially opened in 2014 by Lord Karan Bilimoria,School rolls out the red carpet for its official opening. Chad, 26 November 2014, p.45. Accessed 14 July 2021 and had three principals until its closure in 2017,Minutes of the Board meeting held in the Board Room at the Derby Road site on Thursday 28 January 2016 at 5.00 pm West Nottinghamshire College. "Vision Studio School Principal - following the assessment centre process on 7th January 2016 Chris Hatherall accepted the position of VSS Principal and will commence on 1st March." Retrieved 26 January 2019'Inadequate' Mansfield school now facing closure Nottinghamshire Live, 12 July 2017. Retrieved 26 January 2019 after an Ofsted report criticising its performance as inadequate in all areas except one, and with pupil numbers falling. The trust running the school commented that it was no longer financially viable to keep it open.Vision Studio School staff in a "state of shock" at closure plans Chad, 13 July 2017. Retrieved 26 January 2019
Financial crisis During 2018, the college suffered a major financial shortfall necessitating emergency government loans of £2.1m and termination of 100 staff. Referring to a report by the Further Education Commissioner, government minister Anne Milton described the situation as a "...serious corporate failure...", needing external administration by the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA). After the resignation of previous Principal Dame Asha Kemkha in October, a new interim Principal and Chief Executive Officer having a background in dealing with struggling colleges was appointed to start in November.Interim principal appointed at struggling West Notts College Nottinghamshire Live, 17 October 2018. Retrieved 29 November 2018Struggling West Notts College told there was 'serious corporate failure' Nottinghamshire Live, 2 November 2018. Retrieved 29 November 2018
The college issued a statement anticipating further losses of up to 78 non-teaching staff in a bid to save £2.7m, and further expects that by 2019-20 its income will have reduced by £21m compared to 2016-17, due to government reforms changing national apprenticeship funding, with payments being made directly to outside training providers instead of through colleges. Previously, the college benefitted by retaining 20% of the total for managing the schemes. The college established a subsidiary company, Vision Apprentices, in 2010 after 12 organisations nationally were picked to each receive a share of £7m government funding to establish an Apprenticeship Training Association, providing long term placements for 2,550 apprentices with local and national companies.College Scheme Launch, Chad, Mansfield local newspaper, 31 March 2010, p.11. Accessed 18 December 2018 The college has confirmed a commitment to retention of existing courses and quality of tuition for the students and apprentices.Up to 78 jobs could be lost as West Nottinghamshire College plans to 'correct finances' Nottinghamshire Live, 30 November 2018. Retrieved 2 December 2018West Nottinghamshire College forced to ask Government for £2m loan amid financial difficulties Nottinghamshire Live, 21 September 2018. Retrieved 2 December 2018Subcontracting changes blamed for West Notts College job cuts FE Week, 16 March 2018. Retrieved 2 December 2018DfE given just 48 hours to rescue high-profile college from cash crisis FE Week, 20 September 2018. Retrieved 6 December 2018