City and Islington College

City and Islington College, originally known as Islington Federal College, was founded in November 1993 following the merger of City and East London College, North London College, Islington Adult Education Service and Islington Sixth Form College. In 2003, the college reorganised its curriculum across five centres, each with bespoke specialisms.

Today it is one of the largest Further Education colleges in the UK with approximately 18,000 students across all age groups and offers a wide range of further, adult and higher education programmes.

In 2016, the college merged with Westminster Kingsway College to form Capital City College Group; in late 2017, the College of Haringey, Enfield and North East London joined, making the group one of the largest colleges in the UK.

Following the merger of various colleges in 1993, City and Islington College inherited a large, but neglected estate, consisting of seven Victorian London School Board properties, three late 1950s school and college buildings and a listed early 19th-century building in Pitfield Street, Shoreditch. The estate was valued at just £12 million in 1992, at the bottom of a property slump. In addition, there were two leased buildings costing the college £1 million a year in rent. A premises committee was founded to look at purchasing new buildings to enhance and improve the experience for City and Islington College students.

The first step of improving the City and Islington College portfolio of centres was the purchase of the Marlborough Building from London Metropolitan University, refurbished and redeveloped for its official opening in September 1995. The building became the new home of the college’s senior management team and for college-wide support services, such as finance and human resources.

Following the purchase of the Centre for Health, Social and Childcare, a site at Bunhill Row was sold in 1997, with sites at Rochelle Street, the Chequer Centre and Pitfield Street sold in 1998. The Marlborough Building was temporarily closed during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, with provision at the centre relocated to the Centre for Business, Arts and Technology, and the Centre for Lifelong Learning.

At City and Islington College, we focus on providing training and education that:

• Is rigorously focused on creating the best outcomes for students
• Enables and encourages all of our students to set their sights high and achieve their ambitions
• Goes beyond qualifications; giving students the skills and qualities they need for long-term success in a global economy
• Has a clear line of sight to employment
• Is highly relevant, innovative and future-focused
• Is shaped by the needs of our community and employers

We hope you will decide to choose to study with us and look forward to receiving your application.

Our college offers a range of courses for students with learning difficulties and disabilities, mental health issues and physical difficulties. Our courses are designed to develop life and work skills through practical activities. All our classes have experienced tutors and classroom assistants to ensure appropriate support is in place, including tailored work experience to suit individual interests. Students also have regular opportunities to get involved in college events and a wide range of extracurricular activities.

As an employer we seek to recruit and develop a workforce that reflects, understands and fully embraces the diverse nature of our students. We value diversity and positively encourage applications from everyone regardless of gender, age, ethnicity, sexual orientation, faith, disability, marital/civil partnership status, gender orientation or social background. We are also committed to protecting and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults.

We are proud to display the Positive About Disabled People symbol, awarded to employers who have made commitments to employ, keep and develop the abilities of disabled staff. We are also proud to be Stonewall Diversity Champions, ensuring all LGBTQ+ staff are accepted without exception in the workplace, tackling homophobic, biphobic and transphobic bullying.