Hillcroft College

<b>Hillcroft College

BRIEF HISTORY AND BACKGROUND OF THE COLLEGE</b>

Mission Statement - 'To enable adult women disadvantaged by educational or social factors to progress into higher education, vocational training and employment.'

Hillcroft College was founded in 1920 as a place where working class women could live and study together. Although courses have changed a great deal over the intervening years as a result of evolving interests and needs, our commitment to providing education for women has remained. Students attend the College on a full-time or part-time basis, both residential and day, with courses ranging from two days to one year at a range of levels from basic to higher level (University year one).

The College has grown recently. We had around 1020 enrolments in the year 2003-04 on courses lasting from a weekend to a full academic year. Up to 50 women are in residence at a time.

The College is situated in three acres of attractive lawns and woodland and is a two minute walk from Surbiton main line train station. The main building is a fine Victorian mansion which retains many of its original features and fittings. There are fifty-six study bedrooms, twenty of which are located in a newer residential block, known as Powell House, within the grounds. The whole college is smoke-free areas.

There is wheelchair access to part of the main building and the College is constantly reviewing and updating its provision for disabled students and staff. Hillcroft is an Equal Opportunities College. The aim of our policy is to ensure that no person receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of sex, age, race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origins, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, family responsibility, trade union activity, political or religious belief.

Hillcroft College is an Equal Opportunities Employer and applications are welcome from men and women. The College is exempt under the Sex Discrimination Act 1975 and its amendments 1986, in recruiting women students only.