Hopwood Hall Annual Review: College vows to build on successful year

Hopwood Hall College's new Technology Centre

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Another successful year at Hopwood Hall College is just a platform from which more will come; stakeholders were told at the annual review.

Guests including Jim Dobbin MP, the Mayor and Mayoress and representatives of Greater Manchester Police were in attendance as the College announced spending was down and applications are up.

Principal Derek O’Toole told the assembled guests the College was to continue to strive to improve further on their successful Ofsted report in 2011.

“We are an ambitious college,” he said.

“As an institution we will be outstanding. We will ensure our staff and learners embrace this.”

The Annual Review revealed a 3% increase in overall course success rate to 87%.

Vice-principal John Spindler also announced applications to the College were up 23% for next year on top of a similar rise in numbers this year.

Hopwood Hall already boasts 12,438 students of which 3,172 study full-time with a further 9,266 part-timers.

Such an increase is due in no small part to the redevelopment of the College’s Rochdale Campus, which has seen its green and yellow fascias replaced with a more modern exterior.

Phase two of the development, costing £3 million began last month, including the building of a ground floor public restaurant.

Away from campus, 2012 saw 45 Hopwood Hall students volunteer as Games Makers at the Olympic Games.

Curriculum Manager Lesley Hawkins also praised Hopwood Hall alumni Nicola Adams, who won the first ever women’s boxing gold medal for Great Britain, and sailor Stuart Bithell who won silver at the Games.

Their success would have placed the college above Greece and Belgium in the Olympic medals table.

Paralympic swimmer Sascha Kindred also earned a silver medal while footballer Craig Dawson was in the Team GB squad which reached the quarter-finals of the men’s football.

Stakeholders at the annual event also watched short presentations by students Amber Whitehead, Gareth Phillipson and Matthew Jackson who spoke about their experience at Hopwood Hall.

A James Bond-inspired video prospectus, created by college media students, was also launched and guests were treated to a hot and cold buffet and truffles laid on by catering pupils.