History of Farnborough College of Technology

History of Farnborough College of Technology

Farnborough College of Technology roots go back to the days of the Royal Aircraft Factory.  In 1913 the War Office authorised classes to be held in the factory 4 evenings a week at 10/- (50p) a session teaching mathematics, mechanics, drawing & chemistry and so the “Trade Lads School” was started.  It then had to stop due to the First World War and the increase in the work in the factory at that time but studies reconvened in 1917.

In 1936 Hampshire Education Committee started to have some responsibility for providing technical education from which the ONC (Ordinary National Certificate) in Mechanical Engineering evolved.  Studying for this qualification was mainly done during the day and in 1941 the HNC (Higher National Certificate) was approved by the then Ministry of Education. 

In 1943 it was decided to set up an independent technical school and the following year the Royal Aircraft Establishment Technical School took over from the Trade Lads School.  The RAE Technical School had the remit to produce men “trained both theoretically and practically to carry out research and development work in both the RAE and industry” – the Mission Statement of the day.  The Trade Lads School had been housed in various factory workshops but the new Technical School was housed in an old convent.

In the early 1950’s the site across the road from the RAE Technical School became available and work on Farnborough College as we know it began in 1955.  There were problems with the construction of the new building, as the country was still in the years of reconstruction after the end of World War two and steel was difficult to come by.  Some very large air raid shelters had to be removed and it seems that the environment was still a consideration during the 1950’s as the designers worked around keeping most of the trees on site, something always taken into consideration now when looking at new proposals for the College. 

The College opened to students 50 years ago in 1957 with 10 areas of study, engineering and science based but also with art and “women’s crafts”.  The large number of students enrolling meant that the college had to use 13 rooms in the local grammar school.  The college was a success. 

• 1^st year 1,230 students enrolled
• 2^nd year 2,529 students enrolled

In 1960 it was decided Farnborough Tech and the old RAE Technical School should merge and at about the same time construction of the hall was completed.  Apparently as well as taking over the old RAE Tech School buildings we also took over the ghost that went with them. 

By 1962 we had over 4000 students.  Over the years the College grew and added more courses. By the beginning of the 1980’s there were over 6500 students, some 1500 full time.  We needed more space and so the idea for the main extension as we know it, the Mall and all the blocks off it, was conceived.  Work on expanding the site began in 1984. 

When work began huge amounts of soil were dug out and a giant mound of topsoil was deposited on the land fronting the Farnborough Road.  The appointed landscape architect decided that this should be turned into a S shaped sculpture some 16’ high.  It outraged local councillors who had not been consulted and who described it as the Berlin Wall.  In turn the architect called them philistines.  He described it as “a window in the infinite”.  “Full of mystic and cosmological symbolism”.  The local Council disagreed and it was all removed at a cost of £10,000!

In 1995 approval was given for the Westminster building which currently houses Reception, a Lecture Theatre, Student Centre and Conference Suite.  At the same time the extension to the back of the library was approved.  The new building was opened by the College patron His Grace the Duke of Westminster. 

More recently in 2005 the College purchased a site in Aldershot and the new Aldershot College was born. Work continues to develop this thriving College and the site hosts all the College Construction, Teaching and Counselling courses.