Middlesbrough College has revealed that it is ready to invest up to £7million in the future of Middlesbrough’s young people, by announcing that it is to build a centre dedicated to sixth-form A-Level learning adjacent to its existing, award-winning building at Middlehaven.

The announcement comes as the college is celebrating its best-ever results at A-Level, with the pass rate exceeding the national average.

Middlesbrough College already provides courses for over 300 A-Level students and is expanding the range of subjects offered.

The college hopes to open the doors of its new facility in September 2011, providing a dedicated sixth-form experience in Middlesbrough.

Located adjacent to the existing Middlesbrough College, but with its own distinct identity, the new facility, which is being designed by Niven Architects, will include thirteen classrooms, tutorial rooms, a student lounge and a café. The facility will include a new outdoor, all-weather sports pitch to complement the college’s existing six-court sports hall, gymnastics training centre and fitness studio.

All students will benefit from access to the laboratories, art studios, theatre, sports facilities, library and all the other great facilities in the adjacent building but will be taught in an environment specifically designed to stimulate and encourage learning in preparation for university.

Mike Hopkins

Principal

Mike Hopkins, College Principal, said that he was delighted to announce the new development.

‘The young people of Middlesbrough deserve the very best that we can offer them. I am delighted that we have been able to work with our partners – Tees Valley Unlimited, Middlesbrough Council, the Skills Funding Agency, One North East and the Homes and Communities Agency – to secure this exciting new development.’

Bob Brady, the new Chairman of Governors at Middlesbrough College, said that the investment was intended to underpin the great results already achieved by the College.

Bob Brady

Chairman of Governors

‘Middlesbrough College recognizes the need to provide top-quality facilities for the young people of Middlesbrough and the Tees Valley to pursue their A Level studies.’

‘Over the past few years we have invested in some superb facilities at Middlehaven. That investment has resulted in a substantial increase in the number of people pursuing education and achieving great results. The new centre for sixth-form A-Level studies is the next step in providing the people of Middlesbrough, and in particular school-leavers, with the opportunity to pursue courses that can lead to university and to rewarding careers’.

‘We are delighted that following on from the announcement of the wonderful results achieved by our students, we can also show that, even within these tough financial times, we are continuing to look to the future.’