Welbeck Defence Sixth Form College

(Redirected from Welbeck college) Former British sixth-form college specialising in military technical studies

Welbeck College

Location

Woodhouse, Leicestershire, LE12 8WD England
Coordinates	52°43′58″N 1°12′35″W / 52.732741°N 1.209821°W / 52.732741; -1.209821
Information
Former names	Welbeck College (1953–2005)
Type	Private, boarding, sixth form college
Established	25 September 1953; 71 years ago (1953-09-25)
Closed	3 July 2021; 3 years ago (2021-07-03)
Local authority	Leicestershire County Council
Department for Education URN	130784 Tables
Chair of Governors	Andrew Roe
Principal	Howard Blackett
Gender	mixed
Age range	16 to 19
Enrolment	309 (2018)
Campus size	70 acres (28 hectares)
Houses	Alanbrooke Nelson Portland Stirling Trenchard
Publication	The Welbexian
School fees	£6,900 per term (2019/2020)
Affiliation	Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference (Associate)
Alumni	Old Welbexians
Website	www.dsfc.ac.uk

Welbeck Defence Sixth Form College (stylised as Welbeck – The Defence Sixth Form College), formerly named and often referred to as simply Welbeck College, was an independent, selective sixth form college in Leicestershire, England. While run as a sixth form college, the school was an institution of the Ministry of Defence (MoD), and part of the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom.

Founded in 1953, the school was originally based at Welbeck Abbey near Worksop, where it provided A-level education for boys planning to join the technical branches of the British Army. By 2004, the school accepted both male and female students for all three branches of the British Armed Forces, and in 2005, the school was re-opened and relocated to a purpose-built site in Leicestershire, where it also began admitting potential civil servants for the Defence Engineering and Science Group within the Ministry of Defence. The school closed on 3 July 2021.

History

Foundation

Recognising a decline in the number of cadets passing to Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (RMAS), particularly from the north of England, in 1951, the Army Council appointed a committee to consider ways to attract young boys to take commissions in the army. The committee concluded that either a system of scholarships should be established to encourage boys to stay at school until they were 18 before graduating to Sandhurst, or that the army should open a school of its own. The second method was preferred by the council, who appointed a second committee which selected Welbeck Abbey; previously an army college for adults, as the site for the new school. The report was approved by the council, and in the autumn of 1952, work commenced to convert the abbey, which was let by the Duke of Portland to the Ministry of Defence, into a teaching facility.

Following several meetings throughout September 1953 to finalise some last details, Welbeck College, The Army Sixth Form, was officially opened on 25 September 1953; 71 years ago (1953-09-25).

Expansion and re-opening

In 1992, female students were permitted to join the school for the first time.

In 2002, the Defence Training Review resulted in a decision to expand the school to accommodate candidates for the engineering branches of the Royal Navy (RN) and the Royal Air Force (RAF), starting from 2004. Having operated from Welbeck Abbey for half a century, the review also resulted in the decision to close the school at the abbey, and open a new Defence Sixth Form College on the site of some disused barracks outside Woodhouse, near Loughborough.

The purpose-built site was selected for its proximity to the M1 motorway and the East Midlands Airport, and reportedly cost £38 million to develop. The school officially re-opened as Welbeck – The Defence Sixth Form College, on 7 December 2005; 19 years ago (2005-12-07). Upon its re-opening, the school continued to admit potential officers for all three branches of the armed forces as it had started doing the year prior, and began admitting potential civil servants for the Defence Engineering and Science Group (DESG) within the Ministry of Defence.

Closure and current use

On 11 March 2019, it was announced in the House of Commons that the school would be closed in 2021. A spokesperson for the Ministry of Defence acknowledged that the school had "produced some excellent young graduates", but said that the school was "not meeting Defence's requirements or providing sufficient value for money".

In a parliamentary debate called by then-Conservative MP Nicky Morgan on 30 April 2019, Defence minister Mark Lancaster said that "the scheme as it stands has consistently failed to deliver the required number of engineers and technical officers to Defence since its establishment in 2005", and that, "on average only 53 per cent of entrants have completed successfully, and a proportion of those have not achieved STEM degrees". He also noted that "the scheme has cost the Ministry of Defence and the taxpayer some £200,000 per student who has become a STEM graduate".

The school was officially closed at the final graduation ceremony on 3 July 2021, which was attended by Princess Anne.

The site has been retained by the Ministry of Defence, and in September 2021, converted to a military establishment, renamed as MOD Garats Hay. In January 2023, a regional medical centre was opened on the site, for use by serving personnel. The site is currently being used by the military for military training and conference purposes, along with sports events and general classroom learning. Civilian emergency services, including the police also make use of the site, including 'blue light' training, pyrotechnics and simulated gunfire, and canine training.

Governance

Although run as a sixth form college, the school was an institution of the Ministry of Defence and ultimately part of the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom, and latterly operated by Minerva Ltd as part of a public–private partnership.

It was governed by a board, including senior armed forces personnel, civil servants, individuals with technical and industrial experience, directors of Minerva, as well as staff and parents. The board acted as an advisory, rather than a proprietorial body, overseeing the day-to-day running of the school, the facilities, and the provision of education and pastoral care. There were two sub-committees: academic and pastoral, and facilities; which reported to the main governing board.

The school was an associate of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference (HMC).

Admissions

As a selective school, it required prospective pupils to satisfy one of the Single Service Selection Boards, and meet minimum academic requirements. Candidates had to be British citizens, or hold dual-nationality, with one being British. Candidates were required to have an A grade in GCSE mathematics (or equivalent), a B grade in the equivalent level science, and a C grade in the equivalent level English language. A 2018 Independent Schools Inspectorate report noted that pupils at the school came from a very diverse range of backgrounds from across the United Kingdom. A similar report in 2014 noted that just under a quarter of the students were girls.

A small number of private pupils were admitted annually, who paid £6,900 per term during 2019/2020, although the majority of students were classified as 'sponsored students', and had their tuition fees paid for by the Ministry of Defence (MoD). All students' parents were expected to contribute toward maintenance costs, including board, lodging, uniform, and any other services provided, though the amount varied based on gross annual household income and several other factors.

Curriculum

Structure

Aiming to prepare students for careers in the British Armed Forces, the school focused primarily on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) subjects, and, shortly before its closure, offered a choice of eleven core subjects. Before its closure, all students were required to take four AS-levels in lower-sixth, including mathematics and physics, and all had to continue mathematics at A-level in their final year. An enrichment programme was also available, whereby students could attain additional qualifications such as developing language skills or completing an Extended Project Qualification (EPQ).

A 2018 Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) report noted that A-level results from 2014 to 2016 were above the national average for sixth formers in maintained schools, similar to the 2014 ISI report which further found that over two-thirds of results were graded A* to B in 2013. Pupils of the school were given preferred entry to the Defence Technical Undergraduate Scheme (DTUS), which aimed to further prepare students for careers in the armed forces. Pupils typically went on to read science, engineering, or management degrees at one of eleven universities on the scheme.

Combined Cadet Force

The school CCF on parade outside the main building.

Unlike most schools, participation in the school's Combined Cadet Force (CCF) was a compulsory part of the curriculum for all students. The school CCF did not follow the usual cadet training programme, instead holding sessions twice per week, and placing more emphasis on skills and leadership, in order to better prepare students for officer training.

The school CCF held an annual passing out parade to an audience of family, friends, and invited guests. Awards were given to the best cadet from each section, and two special awards: the Welbeck Sword of Honour and the Prince Philip Medal, were also presented.

Extracurricular activities

A wide range of sports were offered at the school, and students participated in regional and military sporting events. In addition to compulsory sports and CCF activities, students were required to participate in at least one further activity per week, from a range of sporting and non-sporting options. These activities included local volunteering, as well as participation in The Duke of Edinburgh's Award (DofE Award) programme.

School site

The school had a purpose-built site outside Woodhouse, near Loughborough in Leicestershire, from its re-opening in 2005 until its closure in 2021. Built on the site of some disused army barracks, the site was close to both the M1 motorway and the East Midlands Airport, and reportedly developed at a cost of £38 million. The school buildings were grouped into four distinct zones adjacent to a large area of sports fields, and included dining facilities, a medical wing, student club areas, a learning resource centre, and computer laboratories. Five boarding houses accommodated up to 380 students, while residential house staff were provided with separate accommodation.

Alumni

Welbeck College educated the following notable alumni in the British Armed Forces:

Brigadier Andrew Massey, Army officer
Lieutenant General Richard Cripwell, Army officer
Lieutenant General Sir David Bill, Army officer
Lieutenant General Andrew Figgures, former Master-General of the Ordnance
Lieutenant General Tyrone Urch, Army officer
Major General Peter Ronald Davies, Army officer and animal welfare campaigner
Lieutenant Colonel Dick Strawbridge, Army officer, engineer, television presenter, and environmentalist
Pam Relph, Paralympic Gold medallist

References

^ "Welbeck - The Defence Sixth Form College, Leicestershire". ISBI.com. ISBI Schools. Retrieved 11 December 2019.
"DSFC Staff List" (PDF). DSFC.ac.uk. Welbeck DSFC. p. 1. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 May 2021. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
"DSFC - Board of Governors". DSFC.ac.uk. Welbeck DSFC. Archived from the original on 14 April 2021. Retrieved 19 January 2020.
"ISI Report" (PDF). DSFC.ac.uk. Independent Schools Inspectorate. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
"Former pupils condemn government decision to shut Welbeck Defence Sixth Form College". LeicesterMercury.co.uk. Leicestershire Live. 12 March 2019. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
^ "Private student fees". DSFC.ac.uk. Welbeck Defence Sixth Form College. Retrieved 21 February 2019.
^ "Regulatory Compliance Inspection Report - Welbeck the Defence Sixth Form College (February 2018)" (PDF). DSFC.ac.uk. Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI). Retrieved 10 December 2019.
"Welbeck College Independent Schools International Website". ISBI.com. ISBI Schools.
^ "Last parade at military college". News.BBC.co.uk. Nottinghamshire: BBC News. 1 July 2005. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
"60th anniversary of Welbeck Defence College". ITV.com. ITV News. 28 June 2013. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
^ Dennis, Jim. Welbeck College - The Early Years Part 1 (PDF). Old Welbexian Association (OWA). p. 4. Retrieved 11 December 2019.
^ "Welbeck Defence Sixth Form College". ArmyCadets.com. Army Cadets. Retrieved 11 December 2019.
^ "Defence Sixth Form College - 28 January 2003 Volume 398". Hansard.Parliament.uk. House of Commons - Hansard. Retrieved 11 December 2019.
^ Martin, Dan (2 May 2019). "Government reveals 'credible interest' in Welbeck Sixth Form Defence College site". LeicesterMercury.co.uk. Leicestershire Live. Retrieved 11 December 2019.
^ Martin, Dan (11 March 2019). "Shock Government decision to axe Welbeck Sixth Form Defence College, near Loughborough". LeicesterMercury.co.uk. Leicestershire Live. Retrieved 11 March 2019.
"Welbeck Defence Sixth Form College Annual General Inspection 2021". Welbeck College. 30 June 2021. Archived from the original on 13 July 2021.
Crowe, Emma (1 February 2023). "MOD Garats Hay". WoodhouseParishCouncil.org.uk. Woodhouse Eaves, Loughborough: Woodhouse Parish Council. Archived from the original on 2 February 2023. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
^ "Integrate Inspection Report - Welbeck the Defence Sixth Form College (April 2014)" (PDF). DSFC.ac.uk. Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI). 2014. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
"HMC Associates List". HMC.org.uk. Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference. Retrieved 2 May 2019.
"Welbeck Defence Sixth Form College". HMC.org.uk. Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
^ "Welbeck DSFC: how to apply". GOV.uk. Ministry of Defence. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
"Sponsored student fees". DSFC.ac.uk. Welbeck the Defence 6th Form College. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
"Welbeck DSFC - Academic Information". DSFC.ac.uk. Welbeck DSFC. Archived from the original on 22 December 2019. Retrieved 11 December 2019.
"Welbeck DSFC - Subjects". DSFC.ac.uk. Welbeck DSFC. Archived from the original on 25 December 2019.
^ "House of Commons - Defence Committee: Written evidence from the Ministry of Defence". Publications.Parliament.uk. Parliament UK. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
^ Baker, Andy (13 July 2017). "Welbeck Defence Sixth Form College's annual passing out parade". LeicesterMercury.co.uk. Leicestershire Live. Retrieved 11 December 2019.
"The Welbeck Curriculum - Combined Cadet Force". DSFC.ac.uk. Welbeck DSFC. Retrieved 11 December 2019.
"Defence Sixth Form College, UK". HICL.com. HICL Infrastructure. Retrieved 12 December 2019.
Arthur, Max (22 October 2011). "Obituary: Brigadier Andrew Massey". Independent.co.uk. The Independent.
"Brigadier Richard Cripwell". DSFC.ac.uk. Welbeck College. Archived from the original on 22 May 2015. Retrieved 7 June 2015.
"Bill, Lt Gen. Sir David (Robert)". Who's Who. A & C Black. doi:10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.U43796. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
‘URCH, Maj. Gen. Tyrone Richard’, Who's Who 2016, A & C Black, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing plc, 2016
"Major General Peter Davies". KCL.ac.uk. King's College London. Retrieved 7 January 2019.
"Pam Relph". Paralympics.org.uk. British Paralympic Association. Archived from the original on 29 August 2012. Retrieved 5 August 2022.

Bibliography

Dennis, Jim. Welbeck College - The Early Years (PDF). Old Welbexian Association (OWA). Retrieved 11 December 2019.

External links

Official website — archived in August 2021
Old Welbexian Association website

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