The Basingstoke College of Technology (BCoT) in Basingstoke, Hampshire, is hosting two public events in March 2026 to celebrate over 75 years of vocational education. These sessions will take place on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, and Tuesday, March 10, 2026, from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM to mark the institution’s history of local teaching and its impact on more than 250,000 alumni.
First established in 1947 as the Basingstoke Technical Institute, the college originally opened its doors to support the local engineering industry. The milestone events will feature talks and memories from staff and former students, focusing on the college’s development from its post-war beginnings to its modern campus on Worting Road.
Notable former student Katie Piper OBE is one of many alumni who have attended the college over the decades, describing her time there as “incredibly formative.” The celebrations follow the retirement of long-serving Principal Anthony Bravo OBE, who stepped down on February 9, 2026, after 16 years of leadership. The college is currently under the interim leadership of Mrs Lorraine Heath.
Today, the college continues to focus on modern skills and was recently named a national Digital Insight Hub for its work in technology education. Local residents and former students are invited to the upcoming evenings to share their stories and see how the college has evolved over the last 79 years.
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