A brief history

The Peterborough Adult Education Institute was founded in 1944 and changed its name to Peterborough College of Adult Education (PCAE) in 1970 when it moved into its own building close to the centre of the city (Brook Street). 

The site has successfully blended the character and personality of the old-style building with the modern facilities and hi-tech offering of the new buildings.

City College Peterborough  is a very successful and expanding centre of learning for the city of Peterborough delivering courses through over 100 centres, including schools, community centres, faith centres and sites throughout the city.

City College Peterborough, the new name for Peterborough College of Adult Education, was launched in June 2010.  

City College Peterborough has held the Investor in People award for over 15 years.  This standard is taken very seriously and is embedded in all working practices.  We are a small, friendly, hardworking and committed team of staff and tutors and see the College as a place where both working and learning is a pleasure.

In the context of widening participation, the College continues to provide opportunities for adults and family learning in a variety of locations including secondary and primary schools, community and faith centres around the city.

The College employs more than 150 part time tutors and trainers, each specialists in their own area combined with formal teacher/training qualifications. 

Learner Profile

The College is a mixed economy institution providing higher, further, general education and training for adults, children and young people. Taking into account the college nursery and activities in retirement provision, the Service truly practises lifelong learning. Over 10,500 individuals have attended a course or programme in the past year and more and more businesses work with the College to support their business training and development needs.  

The College works alongside learners through the College Student Association.  The Association includes representatives from College courses and has its own Chairperson, Treasurer and Secretary.  In addition, a sub committee of the Association is similarly involved in the provision for the retired and elderly learner.

Programmes of Study

The Service provides a wide range of further education examination and certificate courses leading to accreditation and certification from nationally recognised awarding bodies and in-house certification.  The range of provision evolves year on year.  ICT forms a major and growing element of the curriculum, offering training to employers and employees as well as the general public. 

Higher Education  is provided through Certificate and Diploma courses offered with the University of Cambridge Institute of Continuing Education, linked to the National Credit and Accumulation Transfer Framework for levels 1 to 3.  In addition, the College has entered into a partnership with Peterborough Regional College and Anglia Ruskin University for the delivery of degree programmes. 

Languages

The modern languages curriculum area has seen increased demand and provides a broad range of languages at varying levels largely accredited by the Open College Network. ESOL and EFL provision continues to expand particularly through demands from refugees and asylum seekers. The Department works closely with the Peterborough Racial Equality Council and has an excellent reputation for high quality provision and holds the Basic Skills Agency Quality Mark.

Work Based Learning/Entry to Employment

Work Based Learning programmes, funded by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC), offer customised training for the workplace leading to NVQ and Apprenticeship awards in a wide range of occupational areas, which includes retail, warehousing, care, hairdressing, administration, customer services, dental nursing and ICT. Literacy, Numeracy and ESOL support is provided to help improve learners opportunities to achieve sustained employment.  In addition the department also offers the Foundation Learning  programme.

The College  has significantly developed opportunities for widening participation across the city of Peterborough.  Provision includes family learning, confidence building, Basic Skills and ICT.

Supported Adult Learning (SAL)

The College has a significant role in offering a wide and expanding range of provision for those who require Supported Adult Learning (SAL).The SAL  seeks to ensure that quality and accessible education provision is made available to all and offers a variety of programmes to learners at the College, in hospitals, day centres and local community buildings. In addition, many learners have the opportunity to learn new skills and undertake nationally recognised qualifications within a supportive, caring and friendly environment.

Personal Community Development Learning

The general curriculum (PCDL) provides for a wide spectrum of adult community based learning opportunities both on the main College campus and in a number of other centres across the City.  This provision includes arts and crafts, cookery, ICT, languages, literature and history   Flexible learning opportunities are enhanced by a programme of one-day College Saturday programmes, field trips and study tours.

Activities in Retirement

The College operates one of the largest programmes of provision for older learners, men and women over 60, in East Anglia.  There is a wide range of specifically designed courses jointly organised with the learners, through the College Association.

Courses for Children

At the other end of the age range, opportunities are available forchildren and young people  together with an adult at the College on Saturday day schools or twilight period courses such as cookery, arts and crafts and music.

Carousel Day Nursery

The Carousel Day Nursery is an integral part of the college provision.  Quality childcare is provided all year round for 35 pre-school children whose parents are either working or attending the College.  All the staff are qualified and experienced in nursery education.