Tollgate Technological Skills Centre (TTSC), originally known as Herman E. Fawcett Secondary School (HEFSS), is located at 112 Tollgate Road, in Brantford. The school, opened on January 3, 1967, was named after Herman Fawcett, a former city educator. The school was officially opened by Minister of Education Bill Davis in May, 1967.
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The late 1950s saw a significant change in education in Ontario and across Canada. Profound social and economic changes had accelerated rapidly, requiring equally profound changes in educational policies. Consequently, the federal government of Prime Minister John Diefenbaker passed the Technical and Vocational Training Assistance Act (TVTA) in December, 1960. Under this act, significant federal funding was made available for training and employment related programs. An initial $90,000,000 in funding was directed to increasing the numbers of secondary school technical-vocational programs across the country. Ontario then signed a contract with the federal government, making available federal funds to local school boards to begin building new, and expanding existing, secondary schools. In those new schools, 50% of the curriculum had to be comprised of technical, commercial and other vocational subjects or courses designed to prepare students for entry into employment. The Minister of Education of Ontario, John Robarts, then ordered a total revision of the province's secondary school course structure-The Robarts Plan- to allow for the streaming of students into vocational programs. In Ontario, 335 entirely new secondary schools were constructed, along with significant additions to 83 existing schools – all devoted partially or totally to vocational education. At that same time, Superintendent Pew of the Brantford Board noted a real increase in the number of students who desired or required occupational training. One of these new schools with a specific focus on vocational and occupational education, therefore, became Herman E. Fawcett Secondary School.
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Construction of the school was approved by The Brantford Board of Education on October 14, 1964. The school was designed to accomodate 600 students in a three year occupational program. These students, 15 years old by September 1, would be those who had been unsuccessful in elementary school and experienced difficulties academically. The planned completion date was September, 1966. Unfortunately, the school was not ready by that date. Nevertheless, HEFSS did begin its life by offering classes temporarily at three other Brantford Board secondary schools-NPCVS, BCIVS and PJCVS. Students began classes in their own new HEFSS on January 3, 1967 under the direction of Glen Wier, our first Pricipal.
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When the school first opened, students enrolled in a three year non-credit Ocupational Program. Students started in a Pre-Oc year, designed to compensate for an unsuccessful year in grade 8. There followed Oc1 and Oc2. That program was a 50-50 blend of core academic subjects and vocational, technical subjects. After successful completion of the program, students graduated and recieved a Certificate of Training from the Ontario Ministry of Education
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In 1976, HEFSS underwent its first significant change. The non-credit courses called Pre-OC, Oc1 and Oc2 were dropped. Classes were now designated grades 9 and 10. A third year, grade 11 was added, followed the next year by grade 12. Students were now referred to as Junior, Intermediate and Senior. Students enrolled in credit courses at the Modified and Basic levels of difficulty, with a continuing emphasis on vocational training and education. Classes at the General level of difficulty were gradually added to accomodate students who desired the unique technical/vocational courses offered by the school, but who also intended applying to a Community College. That school structure and course offerings continued into the 1990's until the New Curriculum mandated by the Harris government loomed on the horizon.
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Click here to see our full 6 page introductory Magnet Program Brochure.
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The mandates of the New Curriculum led to a second significant change in the school. Grade nine was discontinued; that meant that there would be no grade 9 intake of students in subsequent years. To replace these students, a plan was designed to turn HEFSS into a Magnet School to attract students from other secondary schools, as well as offering programs in Adult Education to adults who wished to upgrade their education. Though Adult Education never came to fruition, double credit, half day Magnet Programs did begin in earnest. That represented a whole new beginning, but necessitated a whole new name for the school to emphasize the change in direction. In September, 1995, HEFSS was reborn as Tollgate Technological Skills Centre.
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Today, TTSC is a true community school that offers a unique blend of academic, technological, personal service and entrepreneurial skills programs, from grade 9 to grade 12. The school attracts students from across the Grand Erie District School Board, especially to its Magnet Programs. Students who successfully complete a four year program of studies receive a Secondary School Graduation Diploma, and either enter into employment, continue their training in apprenticeships or continue their education at a Community College.
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