Facilities at Queen Alexandra College - Harborne Campus
Our Harborne campus is large and peaceful but handy for the shops in Harborne and buses into Birmingham city centre. The original building is now mainly used for the Library and offices as well as having an amazing hall space which we have used for discos, performances of drama and music and for hosting events, both internal and external, for families and friends of the College. It is used each week by external hires which benefits many local community groups.
The entire campus is protected with a secure perimeter and student ID operates as an access system which is monitored electronically. Students may have their passes deactivated if there is a concern for their own safety off campus as QAC is in a busy suburb of Birmingham.
Our dining room provides a great selection of healthy, nutritious and delicious hot and cold meals using well-sourced ingredients for staff and students to enjoy. You can find out more about the catering provision provided by Mint, ABM Catering’s brand in secondary and further education, attached at the bottom of this page.
As you leave the main building you can easily access the Bradbury Centre with its spacious Art and Design room and multiple classrooms used by the Preparation for Life curriculum area. The Bradbury is a base for the speech and language team and our sensory provision. The Sensory Hub is a dedicated sensory room and provision, well equipped with resources to deliver sensory related therapies as guided by our Occupational Therapist and the OT team.
Just outside of the Bradbury Centre we have QAC's Thrift Shop which is a learning base for students and is set up and operates as a small charity shop in which students can gain work experience and develop their basic retail skills. There is also an extensive seating area, ideal in the summer for relaxing and eating outdoors. There is a unique travel training area called Independence Street that is a first step travel training learning experience before going out and about in the busy community.
The campus includes our Bradbury Sports Hall and an outdoor gym space The Bradbury Sports Hall has a huge climbing wall that is used by student and clients and the entire space is hired out weekly and benefits local sporting community groups. There are spacious classrooms based upstairs.
The IT and Media classrooms are based in the Karten Centre which has its own kitchen and quiet break out space as well as a room for technical IT skill development. The Karten Centre is a quiet environment that has plenty of MAC computers and assistive technologies.
Adjacent to this facility, is our Yurt which is perfect for a range of holistic sessions with students including sensory, yoga and mindfulness activities.
Students also benefit from the large gym which is an area designed to meet the diverse physical needs of our student group, having an extensive range of exercise equipment and is a friendly and relaxed environment. It also serves as the base for QAC’s physiotherapy team, incorporating specialist assessment areas and rehabilitation and therapy services. Next door you will find the Healthcare Centre which is the base for our nurses and healthcare assistants.
At the top of campus, we have The Evolution Building where Multi-Trades, Performing Arts, Design & Production and Care classrooms and workshops are based. Next to this facility, is our fantastic QA Cafe which is regularly the venue for coffee mornings and fundraising ventures and which has an amazing range of professional catering equipment, a modern cafe and teaching space.
In addition at the top of campus, we have a retail outlet called The Treasure Box where students further develop their retail and business skills. Finally, you will find a vibrant Student Centre and the popular Music Centre from where the the QA Collective perfect their musical skills and where many more students and clients access music as part of their wellbeing programme.
Last but not least, there are numerous college residential houses on our main site where a range of residential and respite services are based.