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Journalism training centre set to close in 2015

A long-standing training centre which has kick-started the careers of hundreds of journalists and press photographers is set to close and relocate its students to a new multi-million-pound development.

Sheffield College’s Norton Centre is closing from September 2015 and NCTJ-accredited courses will be based at the city’s Hillsborough campus, which is being boosted with an £8.8 million extension including new media facilities.

The move is part of an overall £15.6m upgrade to facilities at Sheffield College and staff, students and courses will transfer from Norton to campuses at either Hillsbrough College or Peaks College that September.

Hillsborough College’s two-storey extension will include new media facilities and general teaching rooms, as well as a theatre, drama studio, dance studio and rehearsal rooms.

An artist's impression of the planned new development at Hillsborough College, Sheffield

Heather MacDonald, chief executive of Sheffield College, said: “We are investing in our students, our staff and the city. This exciting new opportunity will improve the overall quality of our accommodation so that all of our staff and students will benefit from 21st century learning facilities.

“It puts us in an even stronger position to develop new courses where there are skills shortages, help businesses grow and enhance our students’ prospects.”

The Norton campus on Dyche Lane, taken over by the college in 1992, is well known for its creative, arts, journalism and sports courses but its facilities are dated.

Norton College will close in September 2015

“Some of our staff have a real affection for Norton. Even though the building will close in 2015, the spirit of Norton will live on,” Ms MacDonald added.

“Staff will relocate and courses will continue and, in some cases, grow. We want to invest in our newer campuses, which are well connected to public transport. We will do all we can to make the transition for our staff and students as smooth as possible.”

Sheffield College is also expanding its apprenticeship provision, and offering 200 new apprenticeships every year across a range of sectors including creative and digital media, advanced manufacturing and engineering, sport and leisure, and tourism.

16 comments

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  • October 31, 2013 at 8:22 am
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    Sad to see Norton College close. I did two stints there as a student – 1994-1996, and 2004-2005. The Harvard of south Sheffield.

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  • October 31, 2013 at 8:34 am
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    Its very good and better that this college, what is doing for the journalist and photographers, how ever, I see it fine that that the opportunity for the journalist where ever what ever they are. on the world.
    I would have request to let me the course in order to benefit….. because the sill of journalism needs freshness and has the light of political system…..
    I thank the heads and principles of the Sheffield College and I wish them better and bright future….
    Thanks I am Abdisataar,
    regarding……

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  • October 31, 2013 at 9:34 am
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    And whilst we’re at it let’s hear it for Norton’s predecessor, the old Stradbroke College, which closed 20 years ago this year. Ron Ely, Tony Fry, et al.

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  • October 31, 2013 at 10:09 am
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    Some of us remember Stradbroke College being Richmond College… but you’d have to be very, very old. Ron Ely, Lyn Cooke, Frank Littlewood, Gerry Kreibich, Dick Totterdale, etc. When I was there in 1864 we had a good 5-a-side team – incl Seamus Ruddy, Simon Farrington, Robert Gledhill…

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  • October 31, 2013 at 10:40 am
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    As a fellow old boy, downnotout, I was enjoying your trip down Memory Lane, Then you named Rob Gledhill in a “good” footie side and I realised your recall must be suspect.

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  • October 31, 2013 at 10:57 am
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    A headline which manages both to be accurate and misleading.
    You think it heralds a bad news story, but it’s the opposite.

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  • October 31, 2013 at 12:03 pm
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    As an Old Stradbrokian, I never darkened the doors of Norton. My memories of lecturers to stir a few souls were Peter Collins, Geoff Bull, Tony Fry, Terry Wootton et al. Anyone know where any of that lot are these days?

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  • October 31, 2013 at 12:30 pm
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    Tony Fry is still Father Tony and padding around his Sheffield parish I believe.

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  • October 31, 2013 at 2:51 pm
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    Ron Eyley would have been incandescent with rage at journalists who failed to check the spelling of his name

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  • October 31, 2013 at 4:10 pm
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    And who could forget the legendary Terry Wooton?

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  • October 31, 2013 at 6:07 pm
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    Bill, I take it that Mr Eyley aged at things which shouldn’t really provoke rage, then?
    Annoyance, and embarassment on the part of the offender, would be fine.
    Rage, though?

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  • October 31, 2013 at 6:11 pm
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    I remember taking my shorthand exam for the first time at Richmond College on the graduate fasttrack course. Didn’t pass it. Have fond memories of my few months there though especially as my old school was just across the field.

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  • November 1, 2013 at 12:40 pm
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    Richmond remembered, pt1: In Feb-Mar 1976 the one-year graduates’ course students organised a party and invited the then very young, slightly naive, Dick Totterdale along, insisting it was fancy dress. Dick turned up as a leg of ham to find he was the only one in fancy dress. Some weeks later the same students held another party, again fancy dress and again inviting Dick. Not to be tricked twice, Dick turned up in smart jacket and tie to find everyone else in elaborate fancy dress…

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  • November 7, 2013 at 5:17 am
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    Yes it is impressive to new see new facility for media students which will provided a conducive learning environments for media students .

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  • November 20, 2013 at 10:15 pm
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    How can any journalist justify getting wrong something as basic as a person’s name. Dear old Frank Littlewood would have turned in his grave!

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