Jewellery Quarter - Education

Education

The longest-running school in the Jewellery Quarter is the Municipal School for Jewellers and Silversmiths, now part of the Birmingham Institute of Art and Design, run by Birmingham City University, on Vittoria Street. The school was founded in 1888 and moved to its present location in 1890 when Martin & Chamberlain converted a goldsmith's factory, built in 1865 to a design by J. G. Bland. The top storey was added in 1906 by Cossins, Peacock & Bewlay who also designed the south extension in 1911. The school was acquired by the University of Central England in 1989, along with an adjoining site. They commissioned Associated Architects who designed a further south extension which was constructed between 1992 and 1993. They also redesigned much of the interior, creating a full-height atrium with gallery access to workshops. The reception area can also be used as exhibition space. The building itself consists of a Lombardo-Gothic front, whilst the 1911 extension is of red brick mottled with blue. The project won the 1995 RIBA Architecture Award and the 1996 Civic Trust Award.

Bounded by Great Hampton Street, Hall Street and Kenyon Street is the Birmingham campus of The College of Law charity. It is located within industrial premises, previously occupied by William Canning & Co., manufacturing chemists and dry salters and became The College of Law premises in 2001. The entrance to the college is located at the corner of Great Hampton Street and Hall Street and there is vehicular access via Kenyon Street. The car park to the rear of the premises was created through the demolition of industrial units in the 1980s. On 6 May 2008, the college submitted a planning application for an extension to provide 1,413 square metres (15,209 sq ft) of additional space along with car parking. The extension was designed by Gaunt Francis Architects. It was approved by Birmingham City Council in September 2008 and construction commenced in October 2008 with completion in September 2009. Further improvements to the original building were made in 2010 to improve access for the growing number of professional law students attending this world class institution.

Abbey College Birmingham is a college based in buildings overlooking St Paul's Square. Opened in October 1994, it is an independent college with approximately 140 pupils aged 14–19. It is part of the Alpha Plus Group.

University College Birmingham own land on Legge Lane and commissioned Glancy Nicholls Architects in 2006 to design a new campus for the site. The £15 million project was due to be submitted for planning permission in Spring 2007, although no planning application has been submitted. The design consisted of a four storey building with 75,000 square feet (6,968 m2) of space. Part of the site includes the remaining gable end of St Paul's School which was completed in 1869 to a design by J. A. Chatwin.

The former City of Birmingham Fire Brigade station on Albion Street which was built between 1909 and 1910 to a design by T. G. Price, has been converted into a private children's day nursery.

The Birmingham Yamaha Music School exists within Branston Court - on the corner of Vyse Street and Branston Street - and teaches students of all ages how to play guitar, drums, keyboard, bass guitar and vocals. This heightens the growing music scene within the Jewellery Quarter and Hockley areas and boasts a staff of professional performing musicians.

Parking within the Jewellery Quarter is currently being reviewed by the Birmingham City Council.