View source for Queen Alexandra College

{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}}
{{more footnotes|date=September 2018}}
{{Infobox school
 | image = Queen Alexandra College entrance.jpg
 | image_size = 290px 
 | name = Queen Alexandra College
 | established = 1904 
 | type = [[Further education|Further education college]] 
 | head_label = Principal & CEO
 | head = Bev Jessop
 | address = Court Oak Road
 | city = [[Birmingham]]
 | county = [[West Midlands (region)|West Midlands]]
 | country = England
 | postcode = B17 9TG
 | ofsted = yes
 | urn    = 131963
 | enrolment = 270
 | lower_age = 16
 | upper_age = 25
 | website = http://www.qac.ac.uk/
 }}

'''Queen Alexandra College''' ('''QAC''') is an independent [[Special education in England|specialist]] college of further education based in [[Harborne]], [[Birmingham]] for students above the age of sixteen with [[visual impairment]], autism and other [[disabilities]]. Students can develop their [[academic]], [[social skills|social]], employment and [[Independent living|independent skills]] through individualised programmes. QAC also offers many [[leisure]] activities. Its [[Registered charity#Charity registration|registered charity]] number 1065794.

The Bradbury Centre, opened in September 2006, houses a sensory My-Space area, a well equipped Art and Design studio, The Job Shop, Learning Resource Centre, Creative and Media studio and various preparation for life base rooms.
[[File:Queen Alexandra College Karten.jpg|thumb|290px|right|The 'Karten CTEC Centre' of QAC, opened in 2004 where IT training takes place.]]

The Bradbury Sports Hall, completed in 2014, is a sports facility providing all students access to a broad range of disabled and non-disabled sports. The facility is used at evening and at weekends by the local community for various activities.

==Programmes==
QAC offers numerous learning programmes.
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Programme
! Qualifications
|-
|Pre-Entry and [[Entry Level]] Programmes
|Accredited and non-accredited (RARPA) learning programmes in Preparation for Life and Work programmes.  Holistic study programmes which may also include a range of therapies to support learning and achievement.
|-
|[[Arts]]
|Qualifications in Art and Design, [[Performing arts]] and Creative and Media
|-
| [[Trades and Motor Vehicles]] 
|Accredited and non-accredited (RARPA) learning programmes in valeting, car maintenance, woodwork, tiling, basic manufacturing skills, plastering and painting.
|-
|[[Health]], [[Public Services]] and Care
|Qualifications in Health and [[Social Care]]
|-
|[[Information communication technology|Information and Communication Technologies]]
|Qualifications in [[Information technology|IT]] 
|-
|[[Hospitality and Sports]]
|Qualifications in [[Hospitality]] and Sport and Active Leisure, 
|-
|QAC has also offers Supported Internships as a progression route for young people into work - this takes the form of a study programme.  QAC was the only specialist college in England to be part of the initial DfE Supported Internship development programme 3 years ago and has continued to offer this programme ever since.
|-
|}

==Activities==
QAC organises leisure activities outside college time including [[exercising]] in the [[Gym|Feelgood Fitness Centre]], [[five-a-side football]], soccer training, [[Athletic training|athletics training]] and competitions, '{{notatypo|fitsu}}' ([[portmanteau]] of fitness and [[jujutsu]]), [[goalball]], [[human swimming|swimming]] club and other related activities, such as [[ten-pin bowling]] at [[Megabowl|Tenpin]], [[Star City, Birmingham|Star City]], [[ice skating]], [[English billiards|pool]] [[tournament]]s and [[climbing]]. Other activities it organises include [[Movie theater|cinema]] (especially at [[Cineworld]]), [[Premier League|premiership football]] matches, [[concert]]s (especially at the [[National Indoor Arena|NIA]] and the [[National Exhibition Centre|NEC]]), [[karaoke]], residential visits, outward bound expeditions and [[music]] club.

==History==
Queen Alexandra College grew out of the [[Birmingham Royal Institution for the Blind]].  In 1958, the BRIB opened a facility named the Queen Alexandra Technical College for the Blind was opened; this facility eventually became QAC's current campus. In 1997, operation of QAC was transferred from BRIB to an independent charitable company.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.brib.org.uk/about-brib.htm|title=BRIB Profile|access-date=22 February 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100306135832/http://www.brib.org.uk/about-brib.htm|archive-date=6 March 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[RNIB College, Loughborough]]
* [[Royal National College for the Blind]]

==References==
<references/>

==External links==
*[http://www.qac.ac.uk/ Queen Alexandra College]

{{Universities and colleges in the West Midlands}}
{{Organizations for visually impaired people in the United Kingdom}}
{{Schools in Birmingham}}

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[[Category:Further education colleges in Birmingham, West Midlands]]
[[Category:Higher education colleges in England]]
[[Category:School buildings completed in 1904]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Birmingham, West Midlands]]
[[Category:Educational institutions established in 1904]]
[[Category:Schools for the blind in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Education in Birmingham, West Midlands]]
[[Category:1904 establishments in England]]
[[Category:Special schools in the United Kingdom]]