Work has started on a £8 million building project for Newcastle and Stafford Colleges Group (NSCG), to create a two-storey, purpose built T Level Centre.
The new facility, based at the Newcastle College campus, has been planned to accommodate record growth in student numbers.
It will provide learners on a variety of T Level and Sport pathways with an innovative and flexible learning environment reflective of modern workplaces, containing highly specified technology used in architecture, engineering and construction.
In addition, the centre will include a brand new 4-court sports hall with capacity for an increased range of sporting activities and additional teaching spaces.
The announcement comes on the back of record student growth at the College’s Knutton Lane campus, primarily driven by increased demand for new T Level pathways that launched at the start of this academic year.
NSCG Principal and Chief Executive, Craig Hodgson said: “Since we built the current NSCG Newcastle College campus back in 2010, our college community has continued to grow considerably, to the point that we are nearing capacity of our current accommodation.
“With applications for our September 2024 intake already looking incredibly positive, we want to be able to plan ahead to increase capacity in line with the anticipated growth in student numbers.
“The new centre will provide learners with a flexible, multi-purpose, technologically innovative learning environment and will be a welcome addition to the campus footprint.”
The College has appointed contractor Speller Metcalfe to deliver the 1,900 square metre scheme.
Site works have now commenced and it is anticipated that the project will be complete in readiness for the start of the next academic year – September 2024.
T Levels are a new, 2-year Level 3 qualification for 16 to 19-year-olds. Designed with employers, each T Level is equivalent to 3 A levels and helps young people develop the knowledge, attitude and practical skills to progress into skilled employment, an apprenticeship or further study.
