Established as Basingstoke Technical Institute in 1947, Basingstoke College of Technology (BCoT) is a leading further education college that offers full-time and part-time advanced technical and vocational qualifications together with apprenticeships, higher education, professional and leisure courses. We enable our students to progress to university, employment or an apprenticeship.
Achievements
Inspire Business Awards 2023
Basingstoke College of Technology - Winner in ‘Wellbeing at Work’ category
Inspire Business Awards 2023
Basingstoke College of Technology - Finalist in ‘Diversity and Inclusion Champion’ category
Pearson National Teaching Silver Award 2021
Gemma Westlake - Winner in ‘The Award for FE Lecturer of the Year’ category
Pearson National Teaching Silver Award 2021
Laura Archer - Winner of the ‘Highly Commended’ category
Pearson National Teaching Silver Award 2021
Student Support Team - Winner of the ‘Certificate of Excellence’ category
Hampshire Education Awards 2020
Lynsey Spillane - Winner of the ‘Improving Life Chances’ category
National Modern Barber Awards 2020
Mike Taylor Barbering - Winner of the ‘Best Training 2020’ category
Pearson National Teaching Silver Award 2020
James Booty - Winner of ‘The Award for FE Lecturer of the Year’ category
Edufuturists Awards 2019
Basingstoke College of Technology - Winner of the ‘College of the Year Award’
Scott Hayden - Winner of the ‘Educational Impact Award’
Charlie James - Winner of the ‘Student Digital Champion Award’
Pearson National Teaching Silver Award 2019
Scott Hayden - Winner in the ‘Digital Innovator of the Year’ category
Our approach
Our mission: Building Careers of Tomorrow
BCoT offers a different way of learning. While some thrive on classroom-based learning, others prefer a more ‘active’ learning approach.
Our courses combine academic study alongside practical application – so you get the ‘know-how’ and the ‘how-to’ in one.
Our courses aren’t all exam-based – you will be continually assessed throughout your course. With formal assessments each term you will get an ongoing indicator of how you are progressing with plenty of time to make improvements.
Our teachers not only bring their industry knowledge to your lessons, but are also very creative in the tools and methods they use to help you understand your subject. For example, lecturers use digital tools such as Google Classroom, online quizzes, YouTube videos, surveys on their phones and much more to make your course as engaging as possible.
Our dedicated BCoT Digital team work alongside our lecturers to integrate digital skills and technology into the classroom, so students learn in an active way that suits them.
Industry links and work experience
As part of your course, you might undertake some work experience with a relevant employer in your chosen field. Work experience provides a great opportunity for you to get a taste of working life and see where your course could take you in the future. It will improve your understanding of your course, and teach you employability skills including time management, networking and teamwork.
We work with a wide range of local and national employers to make sure you get the best opportunities. As part of your course, you will hear from guest speakers about career opportunities, the latest technologies and how they got into the industry. Our students have previously heard from representatives from leading brands such as Toni&Guy, Mercedes-Benz and Steiner.
Some of our course areas are linked with highly regarded companies and institutes in their industries such as Sandown Mercedes-Benz (Automotive), IMechE – Institute of Mechanical Engineers (Engineering) and Mike Taylor Education (Barbering)
University partnerships
We are committed to the progression of our students and have set up partnership agreements with universities to benefit BCoT students. The agreement gives Level 3 students a reduction in the UCAS points needed for entry onto a selection of their degree courses.
The BCoT Group
Basingstoke College of Technology (BCoT) is a further education college based in Basingstoke, Hampshire. BCoT offers advanced technical and vocational qualifications that enables students to progress to universities, employment or an apprenticeship. Established as Basingstoke Technical Institute in 1947, BCoT was rated 'Good' by Ofsted in May 2016.
Aspiral Learning is the employer-focused and national provider arm of BCoT. Specialists in providing training services for businesses, Aspiral Learning offers apprenticeships to bespoke training solutions and short courses to professional qualifications. Having been delivering apprenticeships for over 20 years, the majority of staff come from industry themselves.
In April 2018 it was announced that West Berkshire Training Consortium (WBTC) joined the BCoT group for the delivery of their apprenticeship service. WBTC is a high-quality apprenticeship training provider established in 1983 to provide outstanding training and employment opportunities. BCoT has worked alongside WBTC for a number of years as a preferred supplier and places more of their apprentices with BCoT than any other provider or college. The partnership will allow for continued growth in the apprenticeship market for both organisations and the opportunity to create a bigger regional presence.
Welcome from the Principal
We are proud of our students and what they achieve. Whether they go on to university, go into employment or join an Apprenticeship, we know that BCoT has given them the skills they need to succeed in their next steps.
Our mission is ‘Building Careers of Tomorrow’ and that shapes everything about our courses. We’re proud to be rated Ofsted outstanding for behaviour and attitudes, personal development and adult learning programmes. We’re also rated ‘strong’ in skills, the highest award possible.
Our learners and staff share the common values of being respectful to others, ready to learn, and safe in and out of the college. To find out more about our aims as a college, you can read our full Strategic Plan for 2021 to 2025.
Students excel at BCoT – all part of a unique combination of expert teaching from industry specialists, state-of-the-art facilities, work experience, unrivalled employer links and a happy and supportive environment. This means that our students can leave us with confidence and skills for life. As you can see from our impressive results, we are one of the best colleges in the country for Apprenticeships. Alongside this, our Level 3 achievement is on a par with the best colleges in the local area – so academic achievement is assured at BCoT.
All we ask of you is to work hard, join in college life and give it your best.
Anthony Bravo, Principal
