Blake College, London, is small, central, friendly and flexible. It specialises in courses in Art, Design and Media.

We started in 1986 as an independent, fee-paying College and now are also able to offer some limited scholarships. Further, we are a recognised qualification centre with good inspection reports. Classes vary from four to sixteen students and numbers are about one hundred in any academic year.

Our personal touch allows freedom for individuals to develop creatively under the direction of teachers who are mostly practising professionals chosen for their commitment and communicative abilities. This refreshingly contrasts with large corporate institutions where humans might be a little less important then rulebooks. Our success is based on the satisfaction of the students and the staff. Full time courses are offered in Fine Art, Fashion, Interior and Graphic Design as well as Photography and Video. They are normally composed of four part time courses chosen from twenty different specialist areas. Thumbnail sketches of the content of these can be found on our website. Each take place all morning or afternoon and are complemented by research and project work as well as the use of studios and facilities. Part of the beauty lies in the wide variety of combinations possible for those unsure of their direction.

Qualifications, judged by us and moderated by Edexcel, are the BTEC Foundation Diploma in Art and Design as well as BTEC Diplomas and Certificates in Design, Photography and Visual Arts. We also award our own Diplomas and Certificates. All Diplomas are full time for one year. Certificates are varied and shorter. Some students take these at level two although most are at level three which is the level normally required for entry to degree courses.

The location of Blake College in the heart of London is enviable, set back and undisturbed in a converted factory with an art studio flooded with natural light and the dark corners of a basement particularly suited to photography and video. The facilities, digital and otherwise, are tailored to the needs of the courses.

Entrance is normally by interview and has the advantage of being all year round. The shortest stay is usually for one project over half a term although most students are full time for one year.