A Place of Transformation, The History of Sparsholt College, Hampshire, from 1899

Founded as the Hampshire Farm School at Old Basing in 1899 when 61 acres of land and buildings were leased, the range of subjects soon expanded under the inspirational leadership of a 29-year-old man appointed in 1901. He could not, however, prevent early objections to the School appearing in local newspapers, including two to the Hampshire Chronicle in June 1906, which questioned its validity and viability; either it should close or move elsewhere.

The relocation to Sparsholt in 1914 followed the purchase of 251 acres of land and buildings by Hampshire County Council for £5,300. Councillors couldn’t agree whether £21 per acre was, or wasn’t, a bargain. The main building was Westley House, described in auction particulars as ‘a very superior FARM RESIDENCE, suitable for the occupation of a gentleman of capital and position.’ Significantly, Sparsholt may have been the very first educational institution in the country to begin four-week training courses for women and girls who were to replace men who left land-based jobs from 1914 onwards to join the armed forces. The First World War years were, understandably, challenging times for Sparsholt, not helped by the conviction of a principal for “gross cruelty” in 1916. After several short-lived appointments, stability returned in 1921 with the selection of a man who served as principal for six years and Hampshire County Council in another capacity for a further 21 years.

Sparsholt’s post-war student numbers remained low, but one of the small group receiving instruction during the winter months of 1920/1921 later became, arguably, England’s most famous cricketer of all time. The book provides the evidence and divulges the name!

Through the 1920s and the early 1930s, National Farmers’ Union branch and executive county committee members and Hampshire County councillors engaged in truculent debates about whether Sparsholt’s teaching should cease altogether, or a place with more suitable land should be found. The acrimonious discussions were aggravated by the underlying serious economic recessions suffered by farmers.

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The appointment of a principal in 1933 began a period when finances improved, student numbers increased, and a wider range of courses was introduced. To expand the Institute’s facilities another 187 acres of land, adjoining the existing campus, were bought in 1935, this time at £27 per acre. Sparsholt’s normal teaching was again interrupted by the advent of the Second World War in 1939 when the whole curriculum for the bulk of the war years provided training for recruits to the Women’s Land Army. Student numbers rose again from the end of the war, fuelled by the requirement to retrain men returning to their previous occupations, and the urgent need to increase farm production to reduce reliance on food imports. For 20 years until the middle of the 1960s, the College was a highly regarded institution helping to provide young people with much-needed skills.

In the second half of the 1960s, however, external events and internal troubles led to a worrying decline in the College’s fortunes. Other land-based institutions had been established in the years immediately after the Second World War, creating a significant imbalance between an increase in the supply of training places and, at best, static demand while agricultural employment continued to fall. Internally, teaching of some courses was found by inspectors to be unsatisfactory, and had to be discontinued at short notice. The unavailability at Sparsholt of core subjects resulted in falling student enrolments and a serious deterioration in the financial position. In 1970 Hampshire’s County councillors undertook a strategic review to determine whether the College should be closed.

However, while in the 1920s and early 1930s farmers joined county councillors in questioning the value of Sparsholt’s teaching, on this occasion Hampshire farmers were determined to retain land-based training in the county. A second different feature was the appointment in 1970 of a principal with a business management background and experience as vice-principal for five years at a similar college. A five-year Business Plan was approved by the county council, following which student numbers, and courses offered, rose impressively. The changes were transformational. From just 50 full-time students in 1970, the number grew to over 1,000 by 1995. A 1991 Inspection Report commented that ‘the number of students has doubled every five years’ which led to ‘pressures on the available accommodation’. The need for capital expenditure for more teaching facilities, and additional residential accommodation to cater for greater numbers of students coming from beyond the local travel area, were apparent.

A fundamental governance change occurred in 1993 when responsibility for all Further and Higher education institutions in England and Wales passed from local authorities to separate governing bodies. Sparsholt was able to attract governors with a wide range of expertise and commitment to oversee continuing progress into the 21st century.

Following the retirement of the principal appointed in 1970, another highly regarded one succeeded him in 1998 and served the College for 22 years until his retirement in 2020. In 2007 the merger took place with what has become Andover College. The growth of Higher education courses led to the establishment of Sparsholt’s University centre in 2016, and the granting of the prestigious Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) Gold Award status in 2018.

For all the importance of a broad curriculum, suitable facilities, and sound finances, it is people who have been the College’s main priority for nearly 125 years. There will scarcely be a farm or land-based business in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight without some student link with Sparsholt. Staff have also provided valuable support to local communities through lectures, judging local shows, and the provision of popular home craft courses. For many years College premises were made available to, among others, farm machinery manufacturers and distributors wishing to demonstrate ever more advanced equipment.

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The College’s impact has extended far beyond Hampshire and, indeed, the UK; people from many parts of the world have come to, and gone from, Sparsholt.  Though rarely in the public arena, the Sparsholt College group holds a unique place among education institutions, and constantly demonstrates its commitment and determination to transform the lives of those, mostly young people, who come for instruction and guidance. Its role in continuing to provide relevant skills for the nation’s workforces will be no less indispensable in the years ahead.

A Place of Transformation, the History of Sparsholt College, Hampshire, from 1899, comprising over 86,000 words and with 65 illustrations, is priced at £12, plus £2.70 to cover postage costs. Copies of the book are available from the author at jandplander@btinternet.com