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Welbeck – The Defence Sixth Form CollegeTony Halliwell, Principal of Welbeck – The Defence Sixth Form College
What does it offer?
Welbeck offers a science and technology-based A-level curriculum in preparation for a technical degree at a leading UK university. It gives a head start into training for a career as an officer within the Armed Services or as an engineer within the Ministry of Defence Civil Service. Each year the college welcomes up to 175 high-calibre young men and women from a variety of backgrounds, all looking for something that exceeds the average sixth-form experience. Alongside academic study, it develops team working, communications and leadership skills. Extra-curricular activities include a heavy emphasis on sport and fitness, including outward-bound activities such as rock climbing, dinghy sailing and navigation. In addition, all Welbeck students join the Combined Cadet Force and take part in regular military training activities, including a range of adventurous training pursuits.
Study at Welbeck and you will leave the college a more confident and responsible individual, fully equipped to read for a degree that will usually be at Newcastle, Southampton, Aston, Loughborough or Northumbria, or exceptionally Cambridge or Oxford. The education at the college is financed by the MoD and parents pay a means-tested contribution towards the boarding cost. While at university the MoD pay a bursary to students, which helps with university expenses. Initial Officer/Professional Development will be at Britannia Royal Naval College Dartmouth, the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst or RAF College Cranwell, while Ministry of Defence Civil Service candidates will undertake up to two years’ Initial Professional Development. This will lead to gaining a commission in one of the Armed Services, leading to a career as an Engineering or Technical Officer, or joining the Ministry of Defence Civil Service as a graduate engineer. A way of life
Unlike most sixth-form colleges, Welbeck offers the full benefits of a boarding education where you learn and train with like-minded friends. Our students come from a wide variety of educational, social and ethnic backgrounds from all over the UK and from UK families living overseas. All are focused on their career aspirations, giving rise to a constant buzz of enthusiasm and drive. At Welbeck you will work hard, play hard and be encouraged to make the best of yourself, as would be expected of any potential officer or MoD Civil Servant. Welbeck’s facilities have been developed to provide a fully equipped sixth-form college and are comprehensive by any standards. An IT infrastructure has been integrated throughout the college with each student being issued with their own laptop on entry into the lower sixth. Information and communications technology (ICT) will be supported by a bespoke management information system and intranet provision.
Residential
Each of Welbeck’s five houses has a capacity of 70 students accommodated in a mix of single, two-person and three-person rooms. Each room includes en-suite facilities and IT connection points to facilitate self study. High-quality levels of pastoral care are delivered by a dedicated team of both resident and non-resident teaching staff and tutors who are attached to each of the five residential houses. Sport and leisure
All major sports are catered for within the college, and facilities include a multi-functional sports hall, squash courts, gymnasium and an indoor 25-metre, six-lane swimming pool. A full range of outdoor sporting facilities is available, including provision for athletics and for all major sports, while for the more adventurous there is a high ropes course and an assault course. There are over 12 sports pitches and in addition the college benefits from a flood-lit astroturf area. The fully equipped sports hall is marked out for a full range of indoor sports and includes a challenging climbing wall. To assist with personal fitness training students have access to a fitness suite and a cardio-vascular training room. Boarding at Welbeck
The Defence Sixth Form College offers ideal preparation both for university and life in one of the four Services. Despite coming from a range of backgrounds, our students also share many personal interests, such as an aspiration to lead, and a passion for sports and the outdoor life. n
 Tony Halliwell BSc, MA was born in Scotland, educated in Scotland, Wales and England, and has over 30 years’ experience of residential education, training and management. He has been Principal of Welbeck – The Defence Sixth Form College for four years, having previously been Principal of the Army’s Sixth Form College in Nottinghamshire (for six years). Welbeck DSFC is the first PFI (Private Finance Initiative) operated college in the UK in which the build, facilities management and education delivery is fully contracted out with the MoD as a controlling authority. He has experience of senior management positions in both the state and independent sectors of education. He has been an executive member of the State Boarding School Association (SBSA), an Independent Schools Inspectorate team member since 1996, and a Boarding Sector Ofsted Additional Inspector since December 2002.Further information You can contact the college by phone or email. Welbeck – The Defence Sixth Form College, Woodhouse, Loughborough, Leicestershire LE12 8WD Tel: 01509 891700 Email: helpdesk@dsfc.ac.uk Web: www.dsfc.ac.uk |
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