ALTON College celebrated has celebrated its anniversary by taking a moment to reflect on 36 years of outstanding success.

Described by East Hampshire MP Damian Hinds as “a jewel in East Hampshire’s crown”, the college was officially opened on May 23, 1980, by then Secretary of State Mark Carlisle.

The college was one of the first purpose-built sixth-forms in the UK and opened for teaching in September 1978 to a cohort of 226 students. Today, approximately 2,000 students from more than 97 different state and independent schools travel from across four counties to study the district facility.

Located on Old Odiham Road, Alton College currently offers a broad range of A-Levels on its 16-acre campus, having increased over the years from 19 to 81. And since 1982, when Sir Keith Joseph, the then Secretary of State, approved tertiary status, Alton College has run a wide range of vocational courses.

The college is said to be the number one choice for students in East Hampshire studying science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM).

Providing a range of adult education, community courses and foundation degrees in partnership with the University of Portsmouth, the college was recently awarded highly-trusted sponsor tier four status, enabling it to welcome international students to study alongside UK students.

Alton College was the first to be awarded outstanding status in three consecutive Ofsted inspections and was noted as the second highest achieving sixth-form college in Hampshire by the Sunday Times in its latest league tables.

Mr Hinds regularly visits the college. He said: “Alton College is a jewel in East Hampshire’s crown, offering students first-class tuition in an environment of great achievement and purpose. When I meet students at the college, I am always struck by their confidence and their drive. Alton students are inquisitive and challenging but engage easily with each other and their teachers. It is a fantastic place for young people to explore, learn, develop and thrive.

“We are fortunate to have such an outstanding academic institution in our area. The college has developed remarkably over the past 36 years and I look forward to it continuing to go from strength to strength in providing excellence in education for young people in the area for years to come.”

In March, Mr Hinds gave a talk on ‘The Budget, The Economy and Economics’ which followed the spring Budget. During the talk, hosted by the Students’ Union and held in the Wessex Arts Theatre, he gave an account of life as Treasury Secretary and covered hot topics from corporation tax and the NHS to the EU referendum. Mr Hinds was impressed by the student’s questions and how they articulated their views, and he is looking forward to returning to the college in June to debate the EU referendum further.

Alton College’s third principal, Sara Russell, took the helm this term after Jane Machell retired at Easter following 12 years in the job. Mrs Machell herself took over the college reins from its inaugural principal, Michael Gray.

Ms Russell said: “At 36 years young, we remain a thriving, modern sixth-form college offering students an enviable choice of high achieving A-Level and vocational courses in a dynamic learning environment. We have extremely experienced, specialist teaching and support staff who provide the perfect bridge between school and higher education or employment. Our students are amazing and each year I’m so impressed and proud of their outstanding achievements.”

Alton College also has a special partnership with neighbouring Beacon College at Treloar’s in Holybourne.

Treloar’s principal John Stone said: “The continuation of this partnership is vital to Treloar’s and its students as without it programmes of this nature would not be viable. Taken together the partnership between Alton College and Treloar’s provides a unique contribution to the SEND (special education needs and disability) offer both locally and nationally.”

Growing from a small number of classrooms into an impressive university-style campus, the college has invested more than £17m its estate during the past 10 years, boasting facilities such as an industry-standard media suite, music recording studios, science laboratories, the Wessex Arts Theatre, dance studios, and a Starbucks café.

The most recent addition and the college’s 10th building was the Sonardyne Centre for Engineering and Design Technology, opened by Sir Robert Winston in 2013. The college ranks as the top provider for engineering in the M3 Local Economic Partnership area. The college has a dedicated STEM ambassador in Dawn Elson, group engineering director at Merlin Entertainments, and Dr Penny Marriott, a leading research scientist leads the college’s specialist rocket scientist programme.

Kate Willett, previously at The Petersfield School, is currently studying biology, chemistry, physics, maths and the extended project qualification. She has applied to study biomedical sciences at university. She said: “I chose to study at Alton because of the outstanding teachers and facilities. In my first year here I won a gold medal in the British Biology Olympiad, thanks to the support from staff. I have also attained work experience placements at Diamond Light Source and the University of Portsmouth labs, and was lucky enough to attend a STEM leadership programme at the US Space and Rocket Centre in Huntsville, Alabama.”

The college is also renowned for its specialist music courses and boasts an array of successful past students such as Laura Jurd, previously at Amery Hill School. In addition to being an internationally recognised trumpeter and composer, winning prestigious awards and regularly appearing on radio and television and at jazz festivals nationwide, Laura has returned to teach and become the college’s dedicated music ambassador.

She said: “Alton College was the first place that I felt connected with like-minded people. Thanks to the amazing support, I went on to study at Trinity Laban Conservatoire for Music and Dance.”

This year, six students were offered places to study at the country’s best music conservatoires. Trombonist Joel Knee, previously at The Petersfield School, has excelled by being offered places at four of the major conservatoires. The Guildhall School of Music and Drama have offered him a scholarship to study jazz, and he has also received offers from Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, the Royal Academy of Music, and the Birmingham Conservatoire to major in jazz.

Ellen Drewe, previously at Amery Hill School, is currently studying A-Level Music and the BTEC level three subsidiary diploma in music (jazz). She has lessons on tenor saxophone and voice but her particular strength lies in composition. Ellen has been offered places at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance and Guildhall School of Music and Drama to study composition.

Trinity only offers seven people a place to study composition each year, and Ellen was offered a place on the spot. She said: “I wasn’t too nervous in my interview as my teachers, Pande Shahov and Phil Singleton, had spent so much time working with us on our applications, working on our interview and audition technique and grounding us all so we knew what to expect. As a result we have all succeeded in being given fantastic offers.”

Other famous college alumni include musician Alison Goldfrapp, singer-songwriters Gwyneth Herbert and Lisbee Stainton, Britain’s Got Talent singer Michael Auger, comedian Russell Howard, cricketer Chris Wood, and actress Catherine McCormack.

Ali Bayliss, previously at Perins School in Alresford, is currently studying economics, history, maths, further maths, Spanish and the extended project qualification. He leaves the college this year to study economics at the University of Cambridge.

He said: “Alton College is a fantastic place to study. The teachers are really passionate and this gives you the confidence to succeed. The incredible support and the applying to competitive courses programme were instrumental in helping me secure my place at Cambridge. I was also fortunate enough to be awarded the Rotary scholarship for mathematics.”

Of the 92 per cent of students who leave the college each year to go to further and higher education or employment, 19 per cent go on to Russell Group universities, including Oxford and Cambridge. Eight per cent of A-Level students achieve a 2:1 honours degree and above while 21 per cent achieve a first-class honours degree. Sixteen per cent is the national average for sixth-form colleges and schools with a sixth form.

Many students also benefit from independent charity the Alton College Foundation which was set up in 1999. In the past 17 years it has raised more than £400,000 to award 252 students a variety of scholarships. It has also provided bursaries and grants of more than £60,000 since 2010.

Gabby Kelly, previously of The Petersfield School, was awarded The Richard Frankel Memorial Scholarship For Medicine this year. She said: “I have used my scholarship to fund experiences to support my UCAS application to medical school, such as attending various medical lectures and conferences and paying transport costs to hospitals and dental surgeries to gain valuable shadowing experience.”

Engineer Ian Gibson has been a governor at the college for the past 15 years and chairman since 2012. In this time he has overseen the expansion and development of the college campus, its curriculum offer for school leavers and adults, and its work with the community. He said: “We are justifiably proud of the achievements of the students that come to Alton College and the high quality of our teaching, learning and support that enables them to reach their full potential.”

He explained that independent economic analysts EMSI reported that the college directly benefits the community as every £1 invested in the college manifests itself into a benefit to taxpayers of £3.40.

“The economic impact of Alton College is significant and calculated as £147.9m per annum including directly employing 152 staff, representing half a per cent of the overall Hampshire economy,” said Mr Gibson, who added: “Students studying level three courses at the college will earn £8,075 more per year in higher earnings than those with no formal qualification.”