Brooklands College Explained

Brooklands College
Motto:	Outstanding Every Day
Established:	1951^[1]
Principal:	Christine Ricketts
Staff:	Over 500
Enrollment:	5,000+
Location:	Weybridge, Surrey, England
Country:	UK
Website:	brooklands.ac.uk

Brooklands College is a further education college in Weybridge and Ashford, England.

In August 2007 Brooklands merged with Spelthorne College in Ashford.^[2] In 2016 the Ashford Campus moved to a new building and the former Spelthorne College site was demolished. The Weybridge campus is in the grounds of Hugh F. Locke King's historic mansion at Brooklands;^[3] the Ashford campus is adjacent to Thomas Knyvett College, Ashford.

The college provides courses for those leaving school after GCSEs, vocational subjects, A-levels, apprenticeships, and professional courses for adults including foundation degrees.

There are approximately 5,000 students attending the college; of these about 2,500 are full-time.

Alumni

• Tom Chilton, racing driver^[4]
• Martin Freeman, actor^[5]
• Gary Numan, musician^[6]
• Arthur Palmer, Labour MP 1945-50 for Wimbledon; 1952-9 for Cleveland; 1964-74 for Bristol Central; 1974-83 for Bristol North East
• Lucie Silvas, singer-songwriter
• Wendy Smith-Sly, athlete who competed mainly in the 3,000 metres; silver medallist at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles; 1983 World Champion in the World 10 km road race championship
• Irene Thomas
• Norman Willis, General Secretary of the TUC, 1984–93
• Sean Lock, Stand-up comedian & TV panel show regular.
• James Purefoy, actor.

In popular culture

• The 2007 film, I Want Candy, starring Carmen Electra, was filmed at Brooklands College.^[7]
• Four members of the pop punk band You Me at Six attended Brooklands College.^{[8] [9]}
• A 2018 Waitrose Christmas advert was filmed at Brooklands College

Notes and References

1. Web site: About . . 6 July 2021 . Brooklands College . 2 September 2021 . 26 February 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210226184321/https://www.brooklands.ac.uk/about/ . live .
2. News: . 3 July 2013 . 22 August 2007 . Brooklands and Spelthorne colleges merger is complete . Surrey Live . 2 September 2021 . 1 December 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201201023935/https://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/local-news/brooklands-spelthorne-colleges-merger-complete-4833323 . live .
3. News: Camden . Billy . 11 October 2019 . Brooklands College may be forced to sell historic building . FEWeek . 19 September 2021 . 22 September 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210922204032/https://feweek.co.uk/brooklands-college-may-be-forced-to-sell-historic-building/ . live .
4. News: Tom and Max Chilton - Reigate's motor racing brothers . 8 May 2013 . Great British Life . 27 December 2022 .
5. News: Hobbit and Sherlock star Martin Freeman recounts first brush with fame in Surrey Comet . 30 April 2014 . Sutton & Croydon Guardian . 27 December 2022.
6. News: Simpson . Dave . 4 August 2022 . Gary Numan: 'I thought my comeback would take four years – not 41!' . The Guardian . 27 December 2022 .
7. News: Macnab . Geoffrey . May 2007 . I want Candy . 17 . 5 . 66 . Sight and Sound . London.
8. News: Proto . Laura . 7 February 2014 . Album-topping success for Brooklands College students – You Me at Six . Sutton & Croydon Guardian . 20 August 2021 . 20 August 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210820135158/https://www.yourlocalguardian.co.uk/news/10994585.album-topping-success-for-brooklands-college-students-you-me-at-six/ . live .
9. News: Smurthwaite . Tom . 3 November 2015 . You Me At Six go back to college to discuss old times . Surrey Live . 20 August 2021 . 20 August 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210820135207/https://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/surrey-news/you-six-go-back-college-10380561 . live .