Aquinas College, Stockport

Infobox UK school
latitude = 53.396077
longitude = -2.145412
dms =
name = Aquinas College


size =
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established = 1980
approx =
closed =
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type = State Funded 6th Form
religion = Roman Catholic
president =
head_label = Principal
head = Dr Ambrose Smith, Ph.D
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chair =
founder =
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specialist =
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street = Nangreave Road
city = Stockport
county = Greater Manchester
country = England
LEA = Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council
ofsted = 130514
staff =
enrollment = 1,850
gender = Mixed
lower_age = 16
upper_age =
publication =
free_label_1 =
free_1 =
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website = http://www.aquinas.ac.uk/
website_name = www.aquinas.ac.uk

Aquinas College, Stockport, Greater Manchester is a Roman Catholic educational institute providing further education to those aged 16 and above. It was established in 1980 on the site of St. Michael's Secondary School, and is owned by the Diocese of Shrewsbury. The college is named after St. Thomas Aquinas, the medieval philosopher considered by many Catholics to be the Church's greatest theologian.

OFSTED inspectors in their last report on the college in 2003 concluded "There is much very good and excellent teaching. Lessons are very well planned, they have a clear and identified purpose and the teaching is supported by excellent learning materials.". [cite web | url=http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/reports/manreports/1526.htm#P127_2710 | title=Aquinas College OFSTED Report | accessdate=2006-09-10 | publisher=OFSTED] The inspectors also criticised the college accommodation as being inadequate and recommended that key skills be improved. The college is popular among school leavers in the Stockport area, so much so that Aquinas College receives twice as many applications as there are places. [cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/4016399.stm | publisher=BBC | title=Hundreds queue for college places | date=2004-11-16]

The college also offers adult education courses, including the government initiative ECDL course.

Famous alumni include Dominic Monaghan of "Lord of the Rings" and "Lost" fame, England field hockey captain Kate Walsh, British Paralympic swimmer Matt Walker, Neil Conley, artist and designer and winner of the Andy Goldsworthy young artist of the year award 2006, DJ Richard Straffon of 97.6 Chiltern FM, journalist and author James Hart.

References

External links

* [http://www.aquinas.ac.uk Aquinas College] - Official site