Sussex Downs College is a large Further Education College with campuses in Eastbourne, Lewes, Newhaven, Uckfield and Hailsham.  The College has three Sixth Forms: Lewes Sixth Form College, Park College and Eastbourne Vocational College. 50% of all 16-18 students in East Sussex choose Sussex Downs College.

We have a large number of 19+ students in the Adult College and we welcome 700 students into the International College each year. The Employer Training department works with over 1000 local employers and in December 2008 we were awarded the Training Quality Standard.  Sussex Downs College works in partnership with the University of Brighton to offer 13 Foundation Degrees, including a number in the Creative and Cultural Skills vocational areas.

The College has been praised by Ofsted for its outstanding leadership and management and the quality of its teaching and learning.  In May 2008, the College achieved the ultimate accolade for FE colleges in England, Beacon Status.

Sussex Downs College is committed to the Creative and Cultural Industries and provides a variety of qualifications at all levels in Performing Arts, Music Technology, Visual Arts, Multi Media and Cultural Heritage. The College has been officially recognised as a Centre of Vocational Excellence (CoVE) in the Performing Arts & Entertainment Industries and has received 2 AOC Beacon Awards in multimedia and music production.  SDC is delighted to be one of the Founder Colleges for the NSA for Creative and Cultural Skills.

News & Events

Knight Crew helps Sussex Downs College celebrate

Sussex Downs College is pleased to announce that it is a Founder College of the National Skills Academy for Creative & Cultural Skills (NSA).

To mark the official announcement Dr John Blake, Principal and Chief Executive of Sussex Downs College, was presented with a plaque by David Pickard, General Director at Glyndebourne prior to the first performance of Knight Crew. The presentation was made to Dr Blake and Dick Holste, Chairman of the Corporation, at a special conference held at Glyndebourne, in front of invited guests from industry and the education sector. The group had gathered to discuss how the Diploma in Creative and Media is developing within the NSA network and to see the first performance of Knight Crew, a new youth opera for young people which included 18 talented Sussex Downs College students either in the choir or in the orchestra. The NSA is a network of creative and cultural employers, organisations, training providers and industry trade associations with the aim to improve skills development opportunities for those entering the sector. Sussex Downs College is at the core of this training network in the South East.

James Poulter, Creative and Media College Manager said: “Sussex Downs College is proud to be a Founder College. We are looking forward to working with local employers to help ensure training leads to real jobs. As a college we already provide a range of outstanding performing arts courses and we aim to develop new learning opportunities working in partnership with venues and other specialist companies supporting the industry.”

Creative Apprenticeships now available through Sussex Downs College

Sussex Downs College is the only approved provider in the South East offering all of the six Creative Apprenticeship Pathways:

• Creative Apprenticeship in Live Events & Promotion
• Creative Apprenticeship in Cultural & Heritage Venue Operations
• Creative Apprenticeship in Music Business
• Creative Apprenticeship in Technical Theatre (Rigging, Lighting and Sound)
• Creative Apprenticeship in Costume & Wardrobe
• Creative Apprenticeship in Community Arts

The Creative Apprenticeships programme is designed to meet the needs of the creative and cultural sectors. Approved by industry and supported by Government, the qualifications give candidates flexible work-based learning opportunities where they can learn valuable skills and obtain qualifications (GSCE or A-level equivalent) whilst earning a wage.

These qualifications consist of a National Award (competence element), the Certificate in Creative & Cultural Practices (knowledge based element) and Key Skills in Application of Number and Communications. The full frameworks are currently delivered in full in the workplace and can be started at any time of the year.

Eligible candidates must be:

• aged 16-24 years old
• employed for a minimum of 16 hours per week

Funding to cover the training element of this programme may be available to eligible candidates aged 16-18 years old. Fees will apply for other candidates.

Options may also be available for candidates aged 25 years and over, including the NVQ Level 2 in Heritage Care and Visitor Services and the and NVQ Level 3 in Cultural Heritage Operations.

For further information contact:

Rose Miller, Lead Skills Adviser, Employer Training
Sussex Downs College, Mountfield Road, Lewes, BN7 2XH
Tel 01273 402211 Email rosemary.miller@sussexdowns.ac.uk