RootsChat.Com

All of the above
PLUS the relaxation of the "100 yr rule" of closure....I SOOOOoooo need to see the 1921 census in order to break down a massive brickwall.
That's all 

Hi Les,
Well that's a change of career,  army to police!
Yes I recognised the AAC badge!  Some years back my brother and I were each given an AAC  commemorative beer glass (AAC badge is etched onto the side).  I think someone had given them to my father, and he passed them on! 
By the way, my father started work at the AAC in early 1963 (Survey Dept).
Also, I think staff were encouraged to take part in hobbies groups, and I remember dad ran the roller-skating club (open to families on a weekend afternoon, that's where I learned to skate) in the old sergeants mess.  And he took the languages club for some years.
I suppose if you left in 66 then you would have seen many changes during your time there, as such a lot of work was going on at that time, not least the building of the bridge overhead!!
Regards
DG

NWP - I stand corrected, the name change from School to College happened earlier than I remember!  By the way, did you enjoy your time there?
Just curious, what was your trade?
DG

I can only tell you a little, but it may help.   

At the age of 13, my father (a Londoner) won a scholarship to Bolt Court Technical School in Fleet Street, London, (which later became London School of Engraving & PhotoLithography, and later still became the London College of Printing).

My father went into the Photo-Lithography side, as he was keen on photography and printing, eventually he became a lecturer in photo-lithography.   
One of his friends at Bolt Court was in the engraving side and eventually worked in London, where he did engraving for bank notes, which is probably more the side you're interested in, but I'm afraid I know nothing more! 
Another boy at that school was the well known Kenneth Williams, who studied cartography, but was more interestd in clownig around, and  as we all know, he chose that over a career as a cartographer!

During WWII the juniors section of Bolt Court had to be re-located out of central London,  and so it moved to Bicester in Oxfordshire.  But in 1943 when my father was 15, and of school leaving age, he was no longer of evacuee status, and so had to continue attending Bolt Court in Fleet Street, London. But as the school grew, they had to find new premises, and it re-located away from Fleet Street. 

There was a Bolt Court old boy's organisation, and if it is still in existence they may be able to supply you with information about photo engraving as it was done in those years you are interested in.  Otherwise how about writing to the the London College of Printing?  If it still exists?!!
Sorry I can't be of more help.
DG

The Army Boy's Technical School came to Beachley in the 1920's. 

After the WWII it became the Army Apprentices School, where junior army recruits (having joined up at age 15/16) would learn a Trade, ie carpentry, electrical, mechanical, survey, etc etc whilst continuing with general education (maths, english etc, encouraged to take O & A levels), and also, of course, learning all the army skills. 
At around the age of 18, or after 3 yrs, the 'Boys' would Pass Out of the Apprentices School and go into the Regular Army, having also obtained a City & Guilds or equivalent, in their trade.   

Cutbacks shortened their 3 year training as an Army Apprentice to 2 years, and the School became the Army Apprentices College.  I believe this was some time in the 1970's -  don't quote me on the date, though the information is correct.  My father worked there for 30 years as a (civilian) technical lecturer.

In the mid 1990's further cutbacks closed down several of the country's Army Apprentice Colleges, the Beachley site becoming a barracks for the Regular Army.
 
If you look up BOBA  (Beachley Old Boys Association) you may find some archive information, as BOBA is still in existence.

As for its location, Beachley is a couple of miles outside Chepstow, and is on the Gloucestershire side of the river Wye.  It sits right at the end of a peninsula jutting out into the Severn Estuary.  The (first/old) Severn Bridge crosses directly overhead the barracks.
Since becoming a regular army barracks, it was necessary to build a lot more living quarters, and acres of fabulous playing fields were given over to housing.