Lincolnshire Wolds College to get under way [edit]

Construction of a new building for the Lincolnshire Wolds College, based on the site of Cordeaux School in Louth, gets under way on Tuesday 27th November 2007.

The Turf Cutting ceremony will take place at 12 Noon and marks the start of the development of the new 2500m2 building, which will be used by young people from across the Lincolnshire Wolds and include 10 different educational establishments.  These include: The Cordeaux School; Monks Dyke Technology College; King Edward VI Grammar School; and St Bernard's Special School, all in Louth The Tennyson School, Mablethorpe; De Aston School, Market Rasen; Birkbeck School & Community Arts College, North Somercotes along with Boston College, Grimsby Institute of Further & Higher Education and the University of Lincoln.

The Wolds College is a major element of a £5.8m programme and is one of 8 schemes in total, approved by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC), to provide young people with access to the 17 new Diplomas being launched in September 2008.

The college is an innovative solution to delivering high quality teaching and learning in a very rural county and will deliver learning in Motor Vehicle Engineering, Hair & Beauty and Construction.

Nick Rashley, Area Director of the LSC in Lincolnshire & Rutland said: "The development of the Wolds College is an excellent example of how an educational vision for the development of skills and knowledge needed by young people in the 21st Century can be turned into reality.  The local LSC is delighted that it has been able to support the local schools, FE Colleges and Work Based Learning providers and to secure all of the capital funding to make this happen."

Councillor Mrs Christine Talbot, Executive Councillor for Secondary Education and Healthier Communities said: "Lincolnshire County Council is pleased to be involved in this partnership to bring a major development in education to the Wolds area.  It will provide opportunities for young people to study the national diplomas,or take up vocational education and prepare them for future careers in the workplace."

The project is being managed by a group of education providers with Mouchel Business Services as project Architects on behalf of Lincolnshire County Council and the main contrator is Lindum Construction.  The Wolds College will provide new applied learning vocational pathways for 16-19 year olds.  The estimated number of these learners will be 200 full-time equivalent students and 90 part-time apprentices.

The facilities will also be used to meet the applied vocational education needs on a part-time bases for approximately 400 14-16 year olds with the possibility of provision for adult learners at evenings and weekends.

Chris Rolph, Education Improvement Partnership Chairman, said: "This is one of the most exciting educational opportunities in the Lincolnshire Wolds for decades.  Strong partnerships between a group of schools and colleges will enable students to study courses without the need to travel long distances, at state of the art facilities."

Simon Gregory, Managing Director of Lindum Construction said: "We are very pleased to be involved in a community project of this nature.  There is already a large amount of education and business partnership taking place and we are sure that this will continue with the schools and local businesses in the future."