Education & Employment

Educational needs are well met in Ampthill, with an upper school/college, a middle school and two lower schools

Education & Employment - Contents

Schools | Pre-Schools | Further Education | Universities | Adult Education | Links | Jobcentre Plus | What does the Ampthill Town plan say about Education & Employment issues in the town?

Education

Schools

Lower Schools 

Russell Lower School - caters for children age 4+ to 9 years

The Firs Lower School - caters for children age 4+ to 9 years

Middle School

Alameda Middle School - caters for children age 9 to 13 years

Upper School

Redborue Upper School and Community College - caters for children age 13 to 18 years

School Term & Holiday Calendar for Central Bedfordshire

Pre-School

Further Education

Local Colleges

Bedford College 

  • Bedford College, Cauldwell Street, Bedford, MK42 9AH
  • Tel: 0800 074 0234
  • Website: www.bedford.ac.uk

Barnfield College 

  • Barnfield College, New Bedford Road, Luton, LU2 7BF
  • Tel: 01582 569500
  • Website: www.barnfield.ac.uk

 Dunstable College

  • Dunstable College, Kingsway, Dunstable, Bedfordshire, LU5 4HG
  • Tel: 01582 477776
  • Website: www.dunstable.ac.uk

Shuttleworth College - land-based college

  • Shuttleworth College, Old Warden Park, Nr. Biggleswade, Bedfordshire, SG18 9EA
  • Tel: 01767 626222
  • Website: www.shuttleworth.ac.uk

Universities

University of Bedfordshire

  • Luton Campus, Park Square, Luton, Bedfordshire, LU1 3JU
  • Bedford Campus, Polhill Avenue, Bedford, MK41 9EA
  • Putteridge Bury Campus, Hitchin Road, Luton, Bedfordshire, LU2 8LE
  • Tel: 01234 400 400
  • Website: www.beds.ac.uk

Cranfield University

  • Cranfield Campus, Cranfield University, Cranfield, Beds, MK43 0AL
  • Tel: 01234 750111
  • Website: www.cranfield.ac.uk

Adult Education

Adult education and evening classes are provided by Central Beds Adult & Community Learning Service and take place at community colleges and other venues around the county. For further information contact:

Links

  • Connexions: Bedfordshire & Luton - Connexions is the new advice, guidance and support service available for every young person aged 13-19. A Personal Adviser will be able to help you make important decisions in your life about education, training, employment, and other life choices.
  • Learndirect - learndirect offers a range of flexible courses to help you learn about computers, office skills and self development. learndirect courses are primarily online so you can work at your own pace from home, at work or in a learndirect centre. Adult & Community Learning currently offer learndirect at venues in Houghton Regis, Bedford and Clifton, see details on home page for contacts.
  • National Institute of Adult Continuing Education - NIACE is a registered charity and a company limited by guarantee under English law. It is a membership organisation, with individual members and more than 260 corporate members across the full range of providers, policy makers and users of adult learning opportunities. NIACE headquarters are in Leicester, England and Cardiff, Wales. The organisation employs more than 150 staff.
  • The Open University - The Open University admitted its first students in 1971. It is the UK's largest university, with over 200,000 students and customers. The OU represents 22% of all part-time higher education students in the UK.

Employment

Job Centre Plus

Bedford Job Centre Plus

Wyvern House
53-55 Bromham Road
Bedford
MK40 2EH

Tel: 01234 361500

Biggleswade Job Centre Plus

73 High Street
Biggleswade
SG18 0JH

Tel: 01767 275750

Search for jobs at www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk

What does the Ampthill Town plan say about Education & Employment issues in the town?

A wide view of the topic has been taken and has included in the research process, an analysis of early years provision, formal education and a review of leisure facilities which may provide opportunities for the acquisition of valuable life skills such as working in teams, communication, promoting equality of opportunity and valuing diversity.

THE ISSUES

  • Contact with young people.
  • Early years provision.
  • Work-placements.
  • Adult and community education.
  • School catchments.
  • Informal education provision.

ACTIONS

  • Initiate a dialogue between members of the Town Council and the young people of the town through school's councils.
  • Publicise the provision of early years activities more effectively.
  • Explore funding options to support childcare for disadvantaged families.
  • The Education, Training and Employment Focus group supports the refurbishment of Parkside Hall to provide suitable and safe premises for group meetings of parents and young children. This is covered in another section of the Town Plan.
  • Offer an annual award to local businesses for services to young people.
  • Involve local organisations such as the Chamber of Commerce, the Rotary Club and the Lions Club in the publicity of work-placement schemes and determine ways of helping businesses, to cope with the legal requirements.
  • Support efforts to obtain Lottery funding to the Workers Education Association (WEA) for their work including the delivery including family learning programmes.
  • Encourage group leaders of leisure and sports clubs in Ampthill to recognise the important role they play in the development of young people.

THE VISION FOR THE FUTURE

  • Effective contact between the Town Council and the children and young people of Ampthill.
  • Wide publicity of the excellent provision for early years care and education.
  • Availability of childcare for all families in Ampthill, irrespective of income.
  • Delivery of meaningful work placements for year 10 and 11 pupils by local employers.
  • Availability of free venues for the delivery of training by the WEA.
  • Effective enhancement and publicity of the provision of adult learning opportunities in Ampthill.
  • Wide provision of informal education by out of school hours leisure and sports clubs in Ampthill.