South Thames Colleges Group | |
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Address | |
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Wandsworth High Street London , United Kingdom | |
Coordinates | 51°27?24?N 0°11?26?W / 51.456557°N 0.190565°WCoordinates: 51°27?24?N 0°11?26?W / 51.456557°N 0.190565°W |
Information | |
Type | Further education |
Established | 2017 |
Local authority | Wandsworth, Merton, Sutton, Kingston upon Thames |
Department for Education URN | 130420 Tables |
Ofsted | Reports |
Principal | Andrew Slade |
Website | www.stgc.ac.uk |
South Thames Colleges Group (STCG) is a large further education institution operating four colleges in south-west London: South Thames College, Kingston College, Merton College, and Carshalton College. As of 2020, STCG has over 5,300 students each on study and adult programmes.[1] The four main campuses are in Wandsworth, Kingston upon Thames, Morden and Carshalton.[2]
It was formed in 2017 following the merger between South Thames College and Merton College with Kingston College and Carshalton College.[3]
South Thames College was founded in 1895.[4]
South Thames College was the largest provider of post-16 study and training in the London Borough of Wandsworth. As of 2003/04 there were 18,000 students. The college had sites in Wandsworth, Tooting, Putney, Roehampton and Battersea.[5] The college was formed in 1993 through the amalgamations of various other colleges.[6]
The college was inspected by Ofsted in June 2009 and again in May 2012 and was awarded a 'Good' rating in both inspections. Ofsted praised the college's rising success rates and the "safe and inclusive environment", rating the safeguarding and care of their students as 'outstanding'. In 2016, Ofsted stated the college 'required improvement' in six key areas.[7]
Carshalton College opened as Carshalton Technical Institute in 1954.[8][9] In 2012 it entered into a federation with Kingston College.[10]
Merton College has existed since around 1890. A new building was erected in 1971 with additional blocks in later years.[11] It formerly occupied a site on Central Road in the borough, which was sold to Barratt Homes, a housing developer.[12][13] Merton College merged with South Thames College in 2009.
It should not be confused with Merton Sixth Form College, a nearby separate institution that was formed in 1990 and later became Phoenix Sixth Form College before closing down.[14]
The forerunner of this college was Kingston Technical College founded in 1899. It was divided in 1962, with the technical college part becoming Kingston University.[15]