Grand Designs
The new £40 million campus and Skills and Employment Centre is the biggest investment in the College’s 50 year history.
Phase 1: Opened its doors to welcome an increasing number of school leavers and adult students who are delighted with the new and impressive facilities. HRH The Princess Royal officially opened the £17.3m centrepiece, with its striking main entrance in January 2008 as part of the three phase development.
Phase 2: A further £13m investment will be completed by the Autumn of 2009, with two new wings spreading out from either side of the original Phase 1 building. The second Phase of the Bishop Auckland College rebuild will add even more outstanding facilities to its Woodhouse Lane Campus including:
- Technology Centre for construction trades and motor vehicle
- Higher Education student centre in partnership with the University of Sunderland
- Music Technology including sound recording, studio production and performing arts
- Design Centre for 3D, fashion, graphic design, fine art and multimedia
Phase 3: A new Skills & Employment Centre in Spennymoor (£8m investment) is also due to be finished Autumn 2009 and will specialise in apprenticeship and employment training.
Joanna Tait, Principal/Chief Executive of Bishop Auckland College said
The College has always strived to meet the changing needs of the community it serves and in a recent survey 89% of respondents agreed they enjoyed their learning experience at the College with 85% saying they would recommend their course/College to a friend/family member. The investment in a new build has allowed us to offer a greater range of full and part time courses, giving easier access to academic and vocational qualifications. This in turn increases the skills in the area which undoubtedly will aid the local economy.
