County council welcomes £34m boost for Staffordshire colleges
Local students, aged between 16 and 18, are set to benefit from new classrooms and specialist training facilities
Local students, aged between 16 and 18, are set to benefit from new classrooms and specialist training facilities, as more than £34 million of government funding is allocated to colleges across Staffordshire.
The Department for Education has announced funding, through its Post-16 Capacity Fund to help colleges expand capacity and improve facilities so they can meet growing demand from young people.
Staffordshire County Council worked alongside further education partners, to make the case for investment in facilities, which will support learners and businesses across the county.
Newcastle and Stafford Colleges Group (NSCG) has secured £6.8 million, towards a £13 million extension to its main building at the Knutton Lane campus, in Newcastle-under-Lyme. The project will create 16 additional classrooms and support more students, to access high-quality further education opportunities.
Burton and South Derbyshire College has been awarded £4.9 million, to replace its former engineering workshop with a modern purpose-built learning facility at its Burton-upon-Trent campus.
Stoke-on-Trent College has secured £6 million, to continue developing facilities, which help students gain the practical skills, knowledge and experience needed, to succeed in high-demand industries.
South Staffordshire College has secured £15 million, to invest in new and refurbished facilities, across its Rodbaston, Lichfield and Cannock campuses.
Lichfield College will benefit from increased capacity, including refurbished teaching spaces for its media provision and a new Learning Resource Centre. Cannock College will gain additional workshop space, to support construction skills training, building on the college's long-standing reputation for construction and engineering education.
More than £10 million will be invested at Rodbaston College, including additional teaching capacity, improved learning support facilities and a new Civil Engineering Centre. The centre will expand training opportunities for 16 to 18-year-olds, adults and apprentices, helping to meet demand for specialist skills across Staffordshire.
Staffordshire County Council's Cabinet Member for Economy and Skills, Robin Hall, said: "It's fantastic to see more than £34 million of government funding being invested in Staffordshire's colleges. That's a huge boost for our further education sector and will give more young people the opportunity to learn in modern facilities and develop the skills they need for their future careers.
"It's also great news for businesses, giving them access to a talented workforce with the skills our local economy needs. This is a significant investment in Staffordshire's future and a real vote of confidence in our further education sector."
The county council and its partners will continue assessing future demand for 16 to 18 education places and identifying any remaining investment, needed to ensure sufficient provision across Staffordshire.