Redcar & Cleveland College opened the doors of its new campus for the first day of teaching this morning (15th September).

College Principal, Gary Groom and Chair of Govenors, Dr Graham Hillier, were joined by Redcar MP Vera Baird to welcome the first students to the £26m development on Redcar’s Corporation Road.

The new campus houses state-of-the-art facilities including a specialist gas training centre, hair and beauty salons and its own fitness suite. Students will be able to study a range of vocational courses across a range of subject areas including Engineering, The Built Environment, Care and Management.

It replaces the college’s previous campuses on Corporation Road and Redcar Lane and will provide the facilities for the college to deliver over 200 full-time time and part-time courses.

Over 5,500 students are expected through the doors of the college over the next 12 months, with enrolments already exceeding all the college’s targets for both Further and Higher Education courses.

Gary Groom, Principal of Redcar & Cleveland College, said:

“This is a very exciting time for the college, its staff, current and prospective students. We’re delighted that MP for Redcar, Vera Baird, can be here with us to receive the first learners into the new campus. We are currently planning a further official opening ceremony, with a member of the Royal Family, which will take place early in 2009.

“The new Redcar & Cleveland College represents what the college is striving to achieve through its mission by 'Raising Aspirations and Exceeding Expectations', with the new building truly reflecting the quality of the college teaching & learning which in itself has been making new national records for excellence. 

“We have already exceeded our initial targets for recruitment this year with some 1,500 learners aged 16-19 expected through the doors today for their first week of term, and we are still enrolling with many more students arriving on a daily basis. 

“The new Redcar & Cleveland College is going to be a great place to learn and work. For many learners recruited this year Redcar & Cleveland College has been their first choice destination for further learning, which is brilliant news.”

Dr Graham Hillier, Chair of College Govenors, said:

“The new building is truly iconic and has already had a huge impact on Redcar and the surrounding areas.

“Working closely with our partners and colleagues in the schools and at the University of Teesside, the college will be delivering programmes which make learning exciting and allow us to meet the new challenges for education from aged 14 years through to adult. 

“By building this new further education college in Redcar & Cleveland we have created a world class learning environment which, together with our excellent staff, is set up and equipped to deliver outstanding teaching and learning well into the long term future.”

Vera Baird, Member of Parliament for Redcar said:

“I am delighted to be here with the first students on day one of Redcar’s new era as a hub for FE in north east. The new college facilities are fantastic.

“The opening of the new Redcar & Cleveland College campus signals Redcar’s intent to be at the forefront of Further Education in the north east. It has been exciting watching the new campus grow over the last 18 months into a new landmark for the town.

“The new campus gives us a world class Further Education institution right on our doorstep at a time when vocational learning is growing in importance on both a local and national level. The facilities here mean that the college is perfectly placed to deliver high class vocational training for many years to come.”

Work started on the development in January 2007 following many months of planning. Hundreds of college staff and contractors have worked on the landmark development, including several students on work-based learning apprenticeships who have put the skills learnt on courses at the college into practice.

Prior to the opening of the college, student ambassadors who will be helping other students to settle into the new campus and find their way around, got to have an advance preview of the new facilities.

All of the students were very impressed with the new college facilities after a brief guided tour ahead of the opening.

Rebbeca Smith, 18, from Dormanstown is looking forward to studying an NVQ in Beauty Therapy and hopes to open her own salon. She said: “I really like the design of the college’s new beauty treatment salon, especially the separate treatment rooms. The overall look of the college, with its glass walls, is very bright, open and spacious. ”
 
Cariann Crowther, 17, from Carlin Howe, is on her 2nd year BTEC National Diploma in Art & Design and she said:

“I am really looking forward to seeing the art rooms, especially after seeing how smart the rest of the new college is. It is also really cool that the new gym can be used by all students.”
 
Joining Cariann on the Art & Design course is 18-year old James Birkbeck from Redcar. He added:

“Overall the feeling of the new college is relaxing, which is great for being able to study.”

The new college campus will be opening its doors for a number of tours for prospective students and members of the public to take a look at the fantastic new facilities.

Further information on the college and the new campus can be found on the college website www.cleveland.ac.uk 
 

View the opening images