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74
ORPINGTON ADULT TRAINING CENTRE
Manager: Mr. G. Langton
(Head Teacher: Mrs. S. I. Walton, until July, 1969)
Deputy Manager: Mr. H. E. Freeman
4 Instructors
2 Trainee Instructors
Until the end of summer term the centre continued to
function as an all-age centre. By September only those trainees
who were 16 or over by the end of 1968, remained. These numbered
43 and the figure was augmented by the transfer of 20
adults from Swanley. (For breakdown of these figures see
Table V.)
The change over presented additional difficulties through the
existing premises being inadequate and unsuitable all round.
Minor adaptations and essential repairs only could be carried out
since the life of the building is very limited. Light machinery
was installed in the main hall, the bathroom was converted into
an office for the clerk and the scene was set to make the best use
of what was available.
Only two members of the teaching staff wished to stay and
work with adults—the rest accompanied the juniors to Woodbrook.
We were indeed fortunate in our recruitment; 2 instructors
and 2 trainee instructors were appointed before the centre
re-opened in its new guise in September. There was a delay with
the appointment of the Manager, our sights being set high. In
this appointment too we were fortunate. The new manager took
up his post in March, 1970, and from that date activities at
Orpington Training Centre once again gathered momentum. The
atmosphere of work-centred purposefulness coupled with social
training activities and an ambitious ongoing assessment programme,
all carried out on the old premises, once again proved
that "people not buildings matter".
2 instructors were fortunate in obtaining placements on a
full-time diploma course at Bournemouth College to start in
September, 1970. The Council gave approval for secondment
on full pay.
The staff join the Woodbrook staff for other types of inservice
training (see special chapter).