South Essex Colleges Group marks a decade of excellence at Thurrock College with a spectacular celebration

Thurrock College has turned 10, and SECG pulled out all the stops to celebrate a decade of learning, achievement, and community spirit.

On 25 June, the college threw open its doors for a day of celebration that proved to be as vibrant and dynamic as the students it serves.

Located just a two-minute walk from the train station and centre of town, the college was officially opened in 2015 by His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Edward. Since then the college has awarded over 24000 qualifications, had 14800 students enrolled on courses and delivered a staggering 631,000 timetabled hours of learning. 

The Mayor of Thurrock, Councillor Sue Shinnick, began the day’s celebrations by cutting the ribbon for the official opening of the brand-new Estuary Studios, a state-of-the-art music facility at the college that is set to become the heartbeat of creative talent in the region.

The Mayor said: “It has been an honour to perform the official opening of these fantastic facilities in Thurrock College. It is a great asset to the creative community in the area.”  

The festivities continued with a speech by Thurrock College Principal, Brad Brooks who said: “It’s been 10 years since we first opened our doors to the Thurrock community. During that time, we’ve proudly supported thousands of local residents in achieving qualifications - from pre-GCSE levels to Level 5 Higher Education Degrees. We are honoured to be at the heart of community transformation and look forward to many more years of success and service. This milestone event is more than just a celebration—it’s a tribute to the thousands of lives transformed through education, ambition, and community support.”

The crowd was then treated to performances by musicians from the college, including Chloe Booker, Tiana Gumbo, TKANdz and bands JTHC and Interns.

Students, staff, alumni, families and local residents enjoyed a festival-style extravaganza, complete with community stalls, a crazy golf course and plenty of surprises.

Other esteemed attendees included Councillor Valerie Morris-Cook and Lee Nightingale from KSS Architects; the company that designed the building.

Mr Nightingale commented: “It is clear how well the building works and it looks as good as it did when the ribbon was cut on opening. It was great to visit Estuary Studios and see how the building has been adapted to cater for the ‘active’ space. It demonstrates true endeavour and passion.”

MP for Thurrock, Jen Craft sent her support saying “Over the past decade, South Essex Colleges Group has opened its doors to thousands of students and local residents - supporting them to learn new skills, gain qualifications, and achieve their goals. The colleges do not just offer education, but opportunity, aspiration, and pride. Congratulations to everyone at South Essex Colleges Group, past and present, on this fantastic milestone. Here's to the next ten years of success, growth, and inspiring futures.”

JaiHui Cao was the first student to enrol at Thurrock College back in 2015. He said: “Having moved from China it was a big change for me, but I made some great friends in my time at college. Since graduating, I have gradually gained experience in construction work, learning a range of different skills allowing me to now run my own plumbing & heating company. If I could give my younger self any advice, it would be to enjoy every moment of your time at college, as it goes by so fast!”