Shrewsbury Sixth Form College has been handed a cash boost of just over £1 million to build new classrooms, eco-friendly accommodation and sports changing rooms.
The capital funding has come from a £57 million Sixth Form College Building Condition Improvement Fund set up by the government.
The money has been distributed nationally to sixth form colleges to help improve the condition of their buildings.
Shrewsbury Sixth Form College’s principal, Martin Ward, said he was delighted with the announcement of the funding boost which would see six new, single storey classrooms built at the site in Priory Road; new sports changing rooms at London Road and new eco-friendly accommodation for the geography, geology and environmental studies departments.
Around 470 students are set to benefit from the scheme and building work will be completed by March next year.
Mr Ward said: “This is very good news at a difficult time for many colleges, and it provides an opportunity to upgrade facilities for students and staff.
“Our priorities are to replace the temporary classrooms on the main site and to provide new sports changing rooms at London Road.
“We are excited about providing brand new eco-friendly accommodation for our outstanding geography, geology and environmental studies departments. We hope to provide an environment in which students can see the good practice that they will be learning about.”
Shrewsbury MP Daniel Kawczynski said: “I am delighted that some of the government’s investment in college buildings is being targeted at Shrewsbury Sixth Form College. It is now up to the college to translate the money into improved facilities for learners which I shall look forward to seeing in the near future.”
Chair of governors, Tim Jones, added: “One of the conditions of the funding is that it is spent by March 2012, and therefore we must work closely with the staff, students, the local community and the planning authorities to ensure that the project moves forward as smoothly as possible.”
by Charlotte Hester