The site of the St Albans Campus, including the historic Mansion House, was purchased by Hertfordshire County Council in 1920. The site opened a year later as the Hertfordshire County Council Agricultural Institute to provide full and part-time courses for home and overseas students. In 1926, a fire broke out in the roof of the Mansion House, resulting in the gabled roof being replaced by the flat roof which exists today. The college later became known as the Hertfordshire College of Agriculture and Horticulture. The Museum of English Rural Life has a collection of dairying equipment for processing milk and making cheese used at the college, plus account books covering the 1930s to 1960s. In 1991, Oaklands was established by the merger of De Havilland College, Hertfordshire College of Agriculture and Horticulture, and St Albans City College when further education in Hertfordshire was reorganised.
Courses
The college offers a wide range of BTEC courses covering different sector subject areas including art, beauty, business, construction, equine studies, engineering, health and social care, hospitality and catering, public services, IT, agriculture, media, performing arts, science, maths and sport. Oaklands also offers apprenticeships as well as a range of A Level subjects. The college has 14 to 19 and 16 to 19-year-old consortium arrangements with local secondary schools in Welwyn Garden City, Hatfield and St Albans. The college is well respected with regards to its land-based provision, these include horticulture, greenkeeping, equine studies and animal management. Oaklands also provides a wide range of part-time courses as part of its adult community learning programme. Oaklands College also offers tertiary qualifications such as foundation degrees, HNDs and HNCs, which are run in partnership with the University of Hertfordshire. Foundation degree students can progress onto a BA or BSc qualification at university. The college also has its own sports academies, Oaklands Wolves. It offers sports such as athletics, basketball and rugby which can be joined by students enrolled on a full-time course. In 2019, it was announced that Oaklands would be working with Arsenal F.C. to offer a new football academy for female students aged 16–19.
Facilities
St Albans Campus
The historic Mansion House is located at the St Albans Campus, dating back to the 19th century. The campus also houses a large sports centre, equipped with a gym, multi-purpose sports hall and astro pitches. The Stables Restaurant, a student-run restaurant is also based at the St Albans Campus which is open to the public. In November 2017, the college gained permission for a multi-million-pound redevelopment of the St Albans Campus. The new build will consist of new student accommodation, administration areas, teaching centres, workshops and a sports pavilion. The development began in 2018, and will continue over a period of five years comprising five phases. A cordoned-off area of derelict greenhouses was demolished in 2018 to make way for the new student residential block, for which construction started later that year. It is estimated to be completed in 2020, providing student accommodation to around 80 students. Some student residential houses were demolished in late-2019 to make way for phase two, a general teaching block, due for completion in 2021.
Welwyn Garden City Campus
The college's Engineering Resource Centre at the Welwyn Garden City Campus was officially opened in 2015, featuring new engineering workshops and welding facilities. The Welwyn-based Oasis Salon run by hair and beauty students is open to the public for various treatments.
Borehamwood
In 2019 the college opened its doors to the new Borehamwood site, offering courses such as construction, business, English as a second language and many part-time and evening courses.
Campuses
Oaklands College is primarily based on two campuses, St Albans and Welwyn Garden City. It also owns a third site in Borehamwood. All sites are based in Hertfordshire.
The college previously had a campus in St Albans City Centre, but this has since closed and all offerings moved to either the Welwyn Garden City or current St Albans Campus.
