St John Rigby College (Wigan)

Infobox UK school
name = St John Rigby College


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established = 1972
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type = Further Education College
religion = Roman Catholic
president =
head_label = Principal
head = Mr John Crowley
r_head_label = Deputy Principal
r_head = Mr Alex Fau-Goodwin
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street = Gathurst Road
city = Wigan
county = Greater Manchester
country = ENG
postcode = WN5 0LJ
LEA = Wigan
ofsted = 130523
staff =
enrollment = 1,372
gender = Coeducational
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website = http://www.sjr.ac.uk/
website_name = www.sjr.ac.uk

St John Rigby College (abbreviated as St.JR or simply St John Rigby) is a sixth form college in the Orrell, Greater Manchester district in the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan, Greater Manchester. St John Rigby is a college for people who want to proceed onto higher education and accepts students from Wigan and different parts of West Lancashire.

St John Rigby College is one of the top colleges in the country with most of its students studying at Level 3 (NVQ Level 3, BTEC National, AS and A- Level) and then going to Universities such as Edge Hill University, University of Manchester, University of Oxford and University of Cambridge.

History

St John Rigby College is a Roman Catholic College was first established in 1972. Under the trusteeship of the Archbishop of Liverpool the college is situated on a single campus four miles west of Wigan

On February 2006 the College opened its new Learning Resource Centre (LRC) offering a wide range of services and support to students.

Campus

The College is large consisting of 6 blocks and is situated on a single campus four miles west of Wigan on Gathurst Road, Orrell, Greater Manchester.

Sports facilities

The Sports Hall has facilities for a wide range of sports, a fitness suite, and floodlit all-weather pitch for Rugby and Football. As well as being used by students, the pitch is also used by others outside the college (e.g. Wigan Athletic F.C. have used the pitch in the past for practice).

College Chapel

Being a Catholic College, students can visit the newly built College Chapel which is available at any time of the day as a place of prayer, reflection or quietness.

The Learning Resource Centre (LRC)

The college Learing Resource Centre offers a wide range of service and support to students such as over 11,000 books in stock, DVD's and online resources.

The Open Learning Centre (OLC)

In the Open Learning Centre, Students have access to over 96 network connected computers to aide them in their learning, with Computer Technicians available to help with any problems any time of the day.

Catering facilities

St John Rigby College has four catering outlets available at diffent times of the school day:

* The College Shop sells foods such as sandwiches fruit, home baked cakes and confectionarys through out the day.
* The Hot Food Counter and Panini Bar sell breakfast items and also paninis. Also there is a complimentary salad bar.
*The Pasta Bar offers pasta and noodles along with hot-dogs and home made soups.

Admittance to the college

Enrolement procedure

St. John Rigby College follows a procedure when enrolling students into the college. Prior to the year of entry, Application forms are distributed to High Schools in different areas, students who are looking to enroll at the college may attend Open Evennings which are held by the college to find more informtion.

Enrollment forms are to be returned to the college by January. Students looking to enroll and parents are then invited to a course consultation where students may discuss and decide about the courses they wish to take. Students will be able to take particular courses providing students meet the required entry grades.

All students who accept a position to study at St. John Rigby College are invited to attend a New Students Day in June and then students will attend the final interview after GCSE results are received by which the college will look at the outcome results and courses will be confirmed.

Acceptance

If accepted into St John Rigby college, students can choose at what level they wish to study from. This consists of 5 levels:

*Entry Level - Entry Level
*Level 1 (Introductory Level) - NVQ Level 1, BTEC Introductory Award
*Level 2 (Intermediate Level) - NVQ Level 2, BTEC First Diploma, GCSE
*Level 3 (Advanced Level) - NVQ Level 3, BTEC National, AS and A Level
*Level 3 (Degrees) - NVQ Level 4, BTEC Higher National, Foundational Degrees

As well as completing chosen courses, students are also required to study 'Values for living' and are also required to take on 'extended studies'. This can be a course completely different to the courses students have chosen to take take. (e.g, School Production, Driving Theory, First Aid)

The majority of students who are enrolled at the college are aged 16-18 and are on Level 3 programs full-time. From here they then proseed onto Universities such as Edge Hill University, University of Manchester, University of Oxford and University of Cambridge.

Current Principal to retire in 2008

After eleven successful years at St John Rigby College, the current Principal, John Crowley, is due to retire in December 2008. The Governing body are currently looking to find a new Principal to continue leading the college from January 2009.

Notable alumni

Luke Marsden - Big Brother 2008 (UK)

Jon Culshaw - impressionist and comedian

Vernon kay - TV presenter, DJ and former model

Iain Coyle - TV presenter, TV producer and stand-up comedian.