In 1966 there was debate in the Southampton Education Committee about turning to a comprehensive education system.
The Committee favoured the introduction of Sixth Form Colleges and three were selected as initial options for Southampton: Richard Taunton's Grammar School; the Girl's Grammar School; and Itchen Grammar School, the latter being the only coeducational Sixth Form College in Southampton.

Philip Vennis was appointed as Principal of the new Itchen Sixth Form College in 1971 and remained until his retirement in 1988.
He was a strong advocate for open access, stating: 
“the position is that pupils can transfer from neighbourhood comprehensives without any formal requirements, the only condition being that the student himself wishes to pursue full time education beyond sixteen and is prepared to apply himself; what matters is the degree of motivation on the part of the students; this is of the greatest importance for future success, and more so than any measure of intelligence or academic attainment, whether eleven plus or sixteen plus.”

This ideology forms part of the present-day mission at Itchen Sixth Form College, providing inclusive further education for all.

Students are mainly from areas of Southampton, east of the River Itchen and along the M27 corridor towards Fareham.
The college's extensive runs an extensive bus service, and is close enough to Sholing Railway Station to allowi access from all over Hampshire.

International students make up 10% of the total student body.

Full-time students study a wide range of courses including vocational, GCSEs, BTECs, and A Levels.
A large number of subjects are supported by the college's Academy of Sport, High Performance Academy (for gifted and talented students), and the recently launched Creative Arts Academy, which offers specialised training and extra opportunities for students to further their skills through extra-curricular classes and trips.
The college also offers a range of Adult Education courses.

The college was inspected in 2017 and in 2018 and on both occasions judged as Requiring Improvement.
In 1966 there was debate in the Southampton Education Committee about turning to a comprehensive education system. The Committee favoured the introduction of Sixth Form Colleges and three were selected as initial options for Southampton: Richard Taunton's Grammar School; the Girl's Grammar School; and Itchen Grammar School, the latter being the only coeducational Sixth Form College in Southampton.
Philip Vennis was appointed as Principal of the new Itchen Sixth Form College in 1971 and remained until his retirement in 1988. He was a strong advocate for open access, stating: 
“the position is that pupils can transfer from neighbourhood comprehensives without any formal requirements, the only condition being that the student himself wishes to pursue full time education beyond sixteen and is prepared to apply himself; what matters is the degree of motivation on the part of the students; this is of the greatest importance for future success, and more so than any measure of intelligence or academic attainment, whether eleven plus or sixteen plus.”
This ideology forms part of the present-day mission at Itchen Sixth Form College, providing inclusive further education for all.
Students are mainly from areas of Southampton, east of the River Itchen and along the M27 corridor towards Fareham. The college's extensive runs an extensive bus service, and is close enough to Sholing Railway Station to allowi access from all over Hampshire.
International students make up 10% of the total student body.
Full-time students study a wide range of courses including vocational, GCSEs, BTECs, and A Levels. A large number of subjects are supported by the college's Academy of Sport, High Performance Academy (for gifted and talented students), and the recently launched Creative Arts Academy, which offers specialised training and extra opportunities for students to further their skills through extra-curricular classes and trips. The college also offers a range of Adult Education courses.
The college was inspected in 2017 and in 2018 and on both occasions judged as Requiring Improvement.
Itchen College