An introduction to MidKent College

MidKent College is an English further education college which operates out of three campuses in the central region of the county of Kent. The college is one of the largest providers of further education and training in the south-east of England. All the college's sites are accessible, being close to town centres and with good road access. An introduction to MidKent College follows.

History and location

MidKent College has been in existence for over a century, with its origins lying in the establishment of the technical colleges in the Medway Towns of Kent in the late 19th Century. By 1978, the college was known as the Mid-Kent College of Higher and Further Education, not being renamed again until 2008, when it dropped the hyphen and became known simply by its current name of MidKent College. The Medway campus is a modern, well-appointed centre for vocational training, with a range of facilities on offer, including workshops and laboratories. There is also a Learning Resource Centre, refectory and social areas for students to mix in. The Maidstone campus is located in the Oakwood Park Complex, a site which contains the college's workshops for bricklaying, carpentry, motor vehicle and welding. There is also a well-appointed Learning Resource Centre as well as a refectory and social areas for students. The Chatham Maritime campus is located in facilities that MidKent College shares with the University of Kent. Used mainly by MidKent's higher education students, the Drill Hall Library is a particularly useful resource.

Learning and lifestyle

MidKent offers a varied range of courses, suiting both those who are seeking academic advancement as well as students who are looking to improve or to develop occupational and vocational skills. Part-time courses are offered for those students who are working or who have other commitments, such as a family. MidKent is also approved by the Skills Funding Agency, meaning that it can offer both apprenticeships and advanced apprenticeships programmes. This is particularly attractive to students who are already working with an employer. The college also works in partnership with local schools to provide a range of vocational courses, for example, hair, beauty and construction to students aged from 14 to 16 years. MidKent also operates in partnership at sixth form level with some schools. Specific details are available from the school involved.