Page 22 - RNT-C07

The HISTORY of REDDITCH New Town

Following forced and planned rebuildings, the New College campus in Redditch is a credit
to the town.

By 1987 the college had 700 full-time students and 4,000 part-time students. By now
the temporary classrooms were becoming an issue with concerns about the lack of
wheelchair access and their unsightly appearance in the centre of the town. A 1991
Inspection at the college recommended the replacement of these classrooms and the
County Council drew up plans for an extension to C block. This was opened in 1994 and
was called D Block.

In 1987, to ease overcrowding and offer a wider range of courses, it was decided to merge
Redditch College and North Worcestershire College in Bromsgrove. On 1st September
1988 the two colleges merged and became North East Worcestershire College or NEW
College.

Some courses became available on one site only. Engineering courses were available in
Bromsgrove only and Art courses in Redditch only. NEW College was officially opened by
Her Royal Highness the Princess Royal on 24th November 1989. From 1st April 1993 LEAs
no longer had responsibility for Further Education so NEW College became an independent
self-governing body.
On 18th May 1999 there was a serious fire in the Art and Design Building. The fire started
at midnight and it took 100 fire fighters six hours to put out the fire which destroyed all
the Art and Design teaching rooms. It was discovered that the fire had been started
deliberately. Students’ work was lost and local firms donated vital equipment to help
students complete their portfolios.

Page: 192