Andover College starts £1.5m improvement programme
23 July 2010
A £1.5m refurbishment programme is now underway at the Andover College campus significantly upgrading and expanding many of the facilities. The College has seen huge success over recent years with record number of students and improving results. This new modern learning environment will equip Andover with a College that meets all academic, vocational and business training needs.
To ensure the learning technology matches that of the refurbished environment, the College is also planning to spend a further £750,000 this year across both the Andover and Sparsholt campuses on Information Technology equipment and systems.
Principal Tim Jackson said: “We have successfully built our reputation as a College that provides learners with an excellent education which is testament to the fine teaching we have here. This has seen our numbers increase from 640 full time 16-18 year old full time learners in September 2007 to approximately 1100 due to be enrolled this year. Very soon we will have many new and refurbished facilities for all these students creating a vibrant and modern environment for them to learn in and enjoy. Andover has a College that it can be very proud of.”
The very first thing students and visitors will see on arrival is a brand new modern reception extension which will create a striking feature entrance of crisp glass and rendered walls. A contemporary hair and beauty salon adjacent to the reception will provide students and the general public with a showcase commercial salon. The vast ground floor complex is also comprised of dedicated classrooms and training spaces for hairdressing, beauty and nail treatments.
The expanded Sixth Form Academy, to accomodate the growth in student numbers, will now exclusively occupy its own dedicated building. A brand new IT study centre and resource area with fixed desktop PCs and wireless laptops will be available for students to use for individual and group research, together with traditional media and journals. A stylish new common room will provide students with a modern relaxing and socialising space.
Performing Arts students are to benefit from their very own studio theatre with seating for 100 people, supported by a new foyer and box office. When not putting on performances the seats can be retracted to create a Performing Arts study centre and flexible dance and drama studio spaces.
Elsewhere in the College new classrooms and IT facilities await the return of Construction and Vehicle Mechanics students. The Construction Department will also gain additional workshop space, materials store and a dedicated cutting room, to offer improved facilities to this popular curriculum area.
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2 Comments
Comment 1 - On 02 Sep 2010 Andover College said:
Very many thanks for your interest, Ben. Our main focus for the time is on raising standards in further education level courses such as A Levels and BTEC qualifications and all our students have access to careers advice to support their ongoing progression. Having said that, Andover College does provide an Access to Higher Education course and some programmes at degree level in teaching, management and accountancy. In addition we are working with the University of Winchester to offer a Masters in Business Administration course and our partner campus (www.sparsholt.ac.uk) does offer degree courses in the land based and outdoor industries. But please keep checking back in case we are able to provide additional higher level courses in the future.
Comment 2 - On 02 Aug 2010 Ben Elliott said:
to andover college, are you going to be offering degree courses? And if you are, what courses will there be? ( e.g. Theology? Philosophy?) yours sincerely/faithfuly, Benjamin Robert Elliott, p.s. I hope you do do degrees!