We are a further education college for adults, with over 7000 learners. Located two minutes from Richmond station, we are within easy reach of London to suit learners travelling across the city.

As well as over 1900 courses, we host an exciting events calendar featuring concerts, drama, lectures, workshops, displays and fairs throughout the year. In 2015-16, RHACC was the top college in the country for learner satisfaction in the FE Choices survey. RHACC is dedicated to providing the resources that enable adults to unlock their talent and fulfil their potential through learning, skills and enterprise. 

As part of this mission, we are committed to six fundamental principles:

• To provide further education to develop pathways needed to progress to higher education
• To provide adult learning to stimulate self-fulfilment and personal development
• To provide basic skills and pre-vocational training to aid in gaining employment
• To develop workplace based, vocational training for those seeking to upgrade their qualifications or who require training to help them change their career path or become self employed.
• To provide outreach programmes enabling progression to community life and/or employment
• To develop work and life skills training for adults with learning disabilities

Our courses range in level from basic skills through to postgraduate. Our friendly, welcoming campus is a relaxed learning environment, with a café area open to the community. The College is vigilant in ensuring that it is a safe and secure environment for learning. We have updated our facilities to ensure they are flexible and accessible.  The new facilities allow the College to provide opportunities for learners with low skills and in particular for learners with learning difficulties or with disabilities. This includes our new accessible teaching kitchen and bathroom facilities.

The key to RHACC’s recent growth and success has been its ability to adapt to the challenges of constantly changing social and economic trends, as well as responding to major changes in Government Policy on adult funding. As a result, its success rates are in the top 20% for FE colleges nationally and it was rated as a Grade 2 college in its Ofsted inspection (May 2015).

Following a year of detailed public consultation and due diligence, the Governing body of Richmond Adult Community College (RACC) and the Hillcroft College Council agreed to proceed with the planned merger of both colleges into one new legal entity. The newly formed Richmond and Hillcroft Adult and Community College came into being as of midnight on 30th September – marking the beginning a new era of adult education in the boroughs of Richmond and Kingston.

The merger brings together the combined expertise of both colleges in the field of adult learning. RACC offers a broad and diverse range of qualification, vocational, leisure, wellbeing and business courses for all members of the community including those with learning difficulties and disabilities, while Hillcroft provides a niche service for women who may face barriers to learning and who may benefit from a more intense residential environment. The merger will also pool the knowledge, expertise and resources of both organisations to provide a more agile and flexible organisation that will be able to re-invest any efficiency gains into enhanced services and bursaries. 

The new college seeks to make learning for work, life and leisure accessible for everyone. The college campuses based in Parkshot in Richmond and South Bank in Surbiton will undergo further investment to improve the estate, to provide outstanding teaching and learning spaces where the learning needs of the whole community can be met. The merger proposal has been supported through the national Area Review of Further Education and has also received wide support from the local authorities of Richmond and Kingston, the Education and Skills Funding Agency and the numerous organisations and partners that both colleges work with. Linda Jones, Chair of the Hillcroft Council, said “The merger will protect the Hillcroft Women’s mission and provide us with a wider platform to extend the range of opportunities available to women learners and those who would benefit from the intense support provided through residential programmes.“ Louise Fluker, Chair of the RACC Governing Body said: “We are delighted to have reached this exciting turning point for both institutions who will now be able to use their combined financial strength to provide a better, broader and more accessible range of opportunities for adults from all walks of life in our community.” Principal of the newly merged college, Gabrielle Flint added: “I am delighted to lead the new college into what I see will be a prosperous future for all our stakeholders. Consolidating our resources will enable us to continue to offer the wide range of courses valued by our communities and our learners, but in an invigorated environment of expansion and development.” 

We are in a prime location in the heart of Richmond and are easily accessible by both underground and over ground train services as well as major bus routes. In recognition of the importance of our staff, we have developed a range of staff benefits which include enhanced annual leave and a free leisure course each year.

We are committed to the promotion of equality and diversity not only in our day to day work but also our recruitment process and welcome applications from a wide range of candidates regardless of their background, ability or beliefs. In recognition of our commitment we hold the Investors in Diversity as well as Jobcentreplus' Two Ticks accreditation. To find out more about our commitment to Equality and Diversity, you can view our E&D Policy. To make our recruitment process even easier, we have developed an online portal for candidates. By registering your details you can apply for any of our vacancies, at any time, without the need to re-enter your details for each application. You can also sign-up for job alerts making sure you never miss out on the opportunity to apply for that job you’ve been waiting for.

If you're searching for your next post, why not contact us now? You'll be working at a great school and be part of a friendly, helpful team. We're always interested to hear from enthusiastic, committed candidates - send us your CV now via our School Talent Pool and say what sort of role you're looking for.