Amersham & Wycombe College is ideally placed to provide high quality training and education for the Creative Industries.

Situated as we are at the end of the Metropolitan Line, within easy reach of London, and at the heart of the ‘celluloid triangle’ of Elstree, Shepperton and Pinewood, with whom we have strong and regular ties.

Of the college’s 1,800 FT FE students, and 300 FT HE students, well over half are within the Faculty of Creative Industries, which includes Film and Television Production, Animation and Visual Effects, Music Performance and Music Technology, Photography, Fine Art, Graphic Design and Costume and Fashion, with courses running from BTEC First Diploma to BA.

Performing Arts courses include 4 BTEC National Diplomas, in Dance, Musical Theatre, Acting and Production Arts, with Foundation Degrees in Musical Theatre and Production Arts, and a 1 year ‘top up’ BA in Musical Theatre. Creative Apprenticeships in Technical Theatre are the latest addition to the portfolio of qualifications. The strength of this side of the curriculum is maintained through supporting with set construction, lighting, sound and front of house the performances which take place through the year.

In 2008/9 24 full scale productions rolled through our own, fully equipped on-site Theatre On The Hill, which has a 14 square metre stage, and is capable of end-on/in the round/traverse productions. They included a Dance production of Edward Scissorhands; First Lady Suite; Fame; The Tempest; Lord of the Flies; The Crucible and Songs for a New World. For the BA final shows, a professional theatre is used, last year for The Pajama Game.

Over recent years the College has invested substantially in facilities which include a 4 camera TV studio and gallery; a 9 camera Vicon Motion Capture studio and large green screen studio. Its own record label – Sham Records – sponsors an annual music festival (Shamstock) and graduates from FE and HE courses have an excellent record of progression into industry or top BA and MA courses.

The college also provides a wide range of vocational and academic programmes across 3 sites, including A Levels, Construction, ESOL, Business and IT, and has 1,700 adult part time students.