In October 1992 the College became independent of Northants County Council. To meet the challenges associated with independence, Moulton expanded rapidly and now has over 2450 full-time students and more than 5500 part-time students, together with a complement of around 750 staff. In 2009/10 the college will be unable to satisfy the demand for places on many of its programmes, which now range from pre-entry to doctorate level.
Moulton’s mission is to be ‘a Centre of Excellence for Education and Training for the Natural, Built and Recreational Environment’, and nearly £40 million has been invested in buildings and other teaching resources to ensure that learners now benefit from an unrivalled learning environment.
The main college estate is located in the semi-rural setting of Moulton village, 5 miles from the centre of Northampton town. In 1997 a satellite horticultural education centre was established in the precincts of Peterborough Cathedral, and in January 1999 the college assumed the management of a community-training centre in the Great Billing area of Northampton. In 2001 a schools centre offering environment-based courses for school groups at key stages 2 and 3 was opened on the Holdenby Estate, some 6 miles north of Moulton. Also during 2001, in partnership with Northampton College, a Learn Direct Centre was established in the heart of Northampton. A Vocational Skills Academy serving South Northants opened in January 2004, and further academies opened in East Northants and Daventry during 2006/7.
Residential accommodation is available on the Moulton Campus for 182 students. Most of this accommodation comprises modern ensuite rooms grouped within halls for 10-12 students. New self-catering accommodation is offered for 36 Higher Education students, together with supervised accommodation for students with severe learning difficulties and disabilities. For day students living further afield, a network of 28 coaches provides subsidised daily transport to and from the College.
The Lodge Farm Management Centre specialises in courses in waste management, mechanical handling and information technology. It provides for a wide range of commercial clients both from Northamptonshire and from further afield.
The college operates a managing agency and brokerage for up to 700 trainees under contract to the Northamptonshire Learning and Skills Council, and provides off the job training for both its own Apprentices and for those from other agencies.
Higher Education is delivered in partnership with the University of Northampton and includes a wide range of Higher National, Foundation, Honours and Higher Degree programmes. Moulton has received direct funding from the Higher Education Funding Council since August 200, and now has around 700 students following degree and post graduate programmes.
At the other end of the spectrum, both full-time and part-time courses are offered for students with learning difficulties and disabilities, and an extensive support network provides for learners who need help in developing their study skills: a wide range of vocational link courses is offered to over 700 pupils from local secondary schools.
In 2001, the Learning and Skills Council awarded the College ‘Centre of Vocational Excellence’ status for its Construction programmes. The College also holds ‘Investor in People’, Careermark and Matrix accreditation.
In October 2004, Moulton was awarded DfES (now LSIS) ‘Beacon’ status. In January 2007 the Commission for Social Care Inspectorate judged residential provision and support for 16-18 students to be excellent under category of ‘Every Child Matters’.
During 2008, the College was inspection by Ofsted who judged Moulton to be ‘Outstanding’ under each of its 5 key questions, and to provide ‘Outstanding Value for Money’.
In the summer of 2009, a pass rate of 97% was achieved by the 2193 students who completed long courses.
The unique features of Moulton College are the operation of its physical resources on business principles, allowing it to provide a much broader student experience than would be possible using public funding alone; and its ‘open access’ policy which offers opportunity to those who have not previously tasted success or achieved formal qualifications.
