Bishop Auckland College (formerly Bishop Auckland Technical College) is a further education college located in the town of Bishop Auckland, County Durham, England. It is located on Woodhouse Lane next to St John's Catholic School with Bishop Barrington School (now Bishop Barrington Sports with Mathematics College) opposite the aforementioned school.
Bishop Auckland College began life as a Technical Institute with classes being run in the Mechanics Institute in Victoria Avenue and other town centre locations. In September 1950 the Technical Institute was opened in the old Railway Offices, Station Approach. Enrolment in 1950/51 was 250 part-time day and evening students. Today that figure is almost 8,500.
It was the demand for engineering courses needed by local industry that led to the first buildings for the Bishop Auckland Technical College (now Bishop Auckland College) on Woodhouse Lane. This was formally opened by County Alderman F. Hunt JP on Wednesday 26 February 1958 at 2.30pm.
Brief Timeline: 1950 - Technical Institute opened September 1950 in the old Railway Offices, Station Approach 1958 - County Alderman F. Hunt JP formally opens Bishop Auckland Technical College on Woodhouse Lane 1962 - New 4 storey block added including Gym and Library 1988 - Access to Higher Education for adults 1993 - New Corporation (governing body) established to govern the estate and staff of the College 1994 - Joanna Tait appointed Principal/Chief Executive 2007 - First phase of the brand new Bishop Auckland College opened to students 2008 - HRH The Princess Royal officially opens first phase of the new building 2010 - Anne Isherwood appointed Principal/Chief Executive
Since 1958 there have been only four other Principals prior to Anne Isherwood and these were Joanna Tait, H.F. Tirrell, H.A. Dickinson and Keith Byfield.
The college has approximately 8,500 students, most of which are part-time, with around 1000 full-time students.
Famous quotes containing the words bishop and/or college:
“O falling fire and piercing cry
and panic, and a weak mailed fist
clenched ignorant against the sky!”
—Elizabeth Bishop (1911–1979)
“I tell you, you’re ruining that boy. You’re ruining him. Why can’t you do as much for me?”
—S.J. Perelman, U.S. screenwriter, Bert Kalmar, Harry Ruby, and Norman Z. McLeod. Groucho Marx, Horsefeathers, a wisecrack made as Huxley College president to Connie, the college widow (Thelma Todd)