Cambridge colleges awarded millions to fund new teaching facilities

Teaching facilities will be extended at two Cambridge colleges thanks to a multi-million pound investment.

Both Long Road and Hills Road have received a slice of the government £83million investment in post-16 providers.

Hills Road Sixth Form College has been awarded £3.2m, which will be invested in a new three-storey study centre with classrooms, a café, a social space and washroom facilities.

Principal Jo Trump said: “Receiving this funding will enable the college to increase its provision for 16 to 19-year-olds by creating additional teaching space as well as the study, social and infrastructure facilities that growth requires.

“We will now be able to respond to the increasing demand for places from our community at the same time as improving the experience for all of our students with an enhanced learning environment.”

The new building will also house purpose-built spaces to accommodate the Special Educational Needs Department (SEND) by creating a student-centred space and a welcoming environment for our learners with particular needs.

The new study centre will be a modular building and will add to the college’s sustainability credentials by delivering fossil-free heat with onsite energy generation.

It will also feature a much-larger student café and gender-neutral facilities for the increased student numbers at the continuingly oversubscribed college.

Hills Road has been the top-performing sixth-form college nationally since performance league tables began over 27 years ago and is rated ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted.

Ms Trump said: “Almost two-thirds of our students study one or more subjects within science, technology, engineering and maths at A-level and approximately 50 per cent progress on to higher education in STEM-related fields. The college’s contribution to local and national skills shortages is significant therefore, and this funding will ensure we can provide more opportunities for young people wanting to follow either these pathways or equally those in arts, creative, social science and humanities spheres too, as this vital infrastructure will improve the experience for all our students.”

Long Road will receive an undisclosed amount to fund a new eight-classroom block.

The £83m further education capacity fund for 2021-22 was launched to ensure FE colleges are able to accommodate the expected demographic increase in 16 to 19-year-olds. Projects funded through the post-16 capacity fund must be completed by August 31, 2022.

The minister for skills, Alex Burghart, said: “Every young person should have the opportunity to gain the skills they need to reach their goals and go on to have successful careers. This investment will boost capacity so we can make sure there is a place for every 16 to 19-year-old, giving them access to the high-quality learning facilities they need to succeed.”