History
Oxford & Cherwell Valley College was formed 31 July 2003 when Oxford College of Further Education, North Oxfordshire College in Banbury and Rycotewood College merged. The new college came into being with 17,000 students, 700 staff on three major sites and a budget of £30m. We opened a new campus in Bicester in 2005, and that’s when we introduced our current name: Oxford & Cherwell Valley College.
Oxford College of Further Education
Founded in 1960, and based at the current Blackbird Leys & City Centre campuses, the Oxford College of Further Education offered courses to students at all levels and enjoyed well-established links with Oxford Brookes University. At the turn of the millennium the student population was made up of 1,872 full-time and 7,533 part-time students. The College was divided into three faculties at the time: Arts; Engineering Services; and Business & Technology.
North Oxfordshire College
North Oxfordshire College, based at the current OCVC Banbury Campus, was a general further education college that served Banbury and Bicester. Its catchment area covered the predominantly rural areas of north Oxfordshire, south Northamptonshire and south east Warwickshire. At the turn of the millennium, 1,115 full-time students were based at the college, of whom 827 were aged 16 to 18, and 288 aged over 19. There were also 3,360 part-time students.
