Education Options

Further education in the borough includes a variety of options for those aged 16 and above including A Levels, T Levels, apprenticeships and colleges.

Basingstoke and Deane has two further education colleges – Queen Mary’s College (QMC) and Basingstoke College of Technology (BCoT).

You can visit both colleges’ websites to find out about their application process.

Queen Mary’s College

Queen Mary’s College (QMC) provides further education for over 16s who want to complete AS and A Levels as well as GCSE and foundation level courses. The publication of the National School and College Performance tables not only identifies Queen Mary’s College as one of the best in the region, but it also places the college in the top 15% of all A Level providers across the country.

QMC is located on Cliddesden Road, RG21 3HF and is accessible by car, bus, a short walk from the train station and on foot.

Subjects on offer include:

• Art and design
• English and maths
• Psychology, health and social care
• Geography, sociology, law and criminology
• Media and film
• Information technology
• Performing arts in the Central Studio – an alternative multipurpose performance venue
• Business education
• Sport and PE in the Sports Centre – one of the best centres for sports and coaching in any sixth form college in the UK
• Science and computing
• Languages
• History, politics and philosophy.

Basingstoke College of Technology

BCoT (pictured) is a further education college, providing a range of technical and vocational qualifications for school leavers, as well as apprenticeships and adult learning. It is in the top 16% of all further education colleges offering advanced technical skills training and is one of the best in Hampshire.

BCoT is located on Worting Road, RG21 8TN and is accessible by car, bus, a short walk from the train station and on foot.

Subjects on offer include:

• Animal management at the Animal Discovery Centre
• Art and design in the studios
• Automotive at the BCoT workshops
• Beauty therapy and media make-up
• Business
• Computing and IT
• Construction in the construction workshop areas
• Counselling
• Early years and childcare at The Nursery at BCoT
• Engineering
• English and maths
• Hair and barbering at Evolve Salon – newly refurbished salon rooms open to the public
• Health and social care
• Hospitality and catering at The Restaurant at BCoT – open to the public
• Media and games design
• Public services
• Sciences
• Sport – with access to fully-equipped onsite gym and access to off-site sports complex
• Travel and tourism.

Colleges near Basingstoke and Deane

There are several colleges located outside the borough which are accessible by public transport including:

• Sparsholt College
• Alton College
• Farnborough College of Technology
• Newbury College
• Fareham College
• Reading College
• Farnham College

Apprenticeships

Apprenticeships provide amazing opportunities for those over the age of 16 (living in England and not in full-time education) keen to learn new skills and gain qualifications in the workplace, whilst earning a salary. Apprenticeship providers, BCoT and Basingstoke ITEC offer a range from intermediate to advanced and The University of Winchester provides higher and degree level apprenticeships.

Levels of apprenticeships:

• Intermediate (Level 2) equivalent to GCSEs
• Advanced (Level 3) equivalent to A Level
• Higher (Level 4, 5, 6, 7) equivalent to foundation degree or above
• Degree (Level 6 and 7) equivalent to Bachelors or Masters degree.

For more information on apprenticeships, visit the GOV UK website.

T Levels

T Levels are new two-year courses, which will follow GCSEs and are equivalent to three A Levels. There will be a mixture of classroom learning and ‘on-the-job’ experience during an industry placement of at least 315 hours. Visit the GOV.UK website to find out more information and the subjects areas that T Levels cover.