College announces campus expansion plan to accommodate record growth in student numbers

Newcastle and Stafford Colleges Group (NSCG) has announced the commencement of an £8m building project at its Newcastle College campus to create a two-storey, purpose built T Level Centre.

The new scheme represents an important strategic addition to the campus, providing 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.

Commenting on the development, 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.

Whether it’s the excellent results, our wide range of courses or the warm welcome we extend, it is clear that NSCG continues to be the college of choice for young people in the region.  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.”

Earlier this term, following a robust tender process, the College appointed contractor Speller Metcalfe to deliver the 1900 square metre scheme.  Site works have now commenced and it is anticipated that project will be complete in readiness for the start of the next academic year, September 2024.

Rob Lashford, regional director at Speller Metcalfe, said: “We’re absolutely delighted to be supporting the College’s vision of bringing their T Level Centre to reality. As a contractor with nearly three decades of experience delivering educational projects, we will be using the combined knowledge of an experienced team to build a centre that the college can be proud of, and most importantly one that will support students with a modern learning environment as they move towards their future careers.“

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.

NSCG offers a broad range of T Level courses in subjects including Health (Adult Nursing & Midwifery), Building Services Design, Business & Administration, Digital Coding & Technology, Education & Early Years, Electrical & Electronic Engineering, Laboratory Sciences, Legal Services, Mechanical Engineering and Surveying & Design.  To find out more about the T Level courses on offer at NSCG, visit:  T Levels | NSCG

More recent news from Newcastle and Stafford Colleges Group:

College announced as expert Apprenticeship provider in new Department for Education scheme. Read more.

Skills training boost for Staffordshire to support more people into jobs locally. Read more.