The Sixth Form College, Colchester is one of the most successful colleges in the country and maintains an outstanding local and national reputation. The College’s aim is to provide broad, high quality academic and general education programmes to our 16-19 year old full time students.It is very secure in terms of both finances and student admissions and currently has approximately three thousand full time students on roll, most of whom are following two-year AS/A Level courses. Since September 2003 there has also been a cohort of students following the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma programme.
In July 1985 the Gilberd School completed the move to Highwoods and shortly afterwards the builders began the conversion of the 1912 buildings for the Sixth Form College. The College was initially established and run by Essex County Council and was scheduled to open in September 1987. It was designed to significantly improve levels of post 16-18 educational participation and achievement in Colchester, which were at that stage were low compared to other similar towns in the South East and East of England.The original 1912 building was extensively altered and refurbished to provide specialist facilities suitable for sixth formers and there was a significant programme of new building to add a sizeable extension to the 1912 building. This cost over £3 million.
