East Sussex County Council has submitted a planning application for a Skills Centre which will form the next stage in its £40 million education project for Bexhill.
The project, to be built on two sites in the town, will replace the current Bexhill High School building and will include a state-of-the-art 21st century school, at Gunters Lane, and a purpose-built Skill Centre for vocational courses at Down Road. It is being funded by the government's Building Schools for the Future programme and £4 million is being invested from the Council's own funds.
Work on the exciting new high school in Gunters Lane is underway and this latest planning application will start the next phase of the process.
The Skill Centre will provide a specialist area for vocational courses including the new 14–19 Diplomas. The centre is dedicated to pre-16 work-based learning and opens up a whole host of opportunities for young people as an alternative to the traditional path of GCSEs.
Councillor Keith Glazier, the County Council's Lead Member for Children and Adult Services, said: “This is a really exciting time for Bexhill students and this planning application takes us another step along the road. This Skill Centre will give young people a chance to learn and expand their skills which can directly transfer into the work place. That's great news for employers and young people alike.”
All members of the school community, from students to staff to governors, have been heavily involved in the planning and design process for the project which has led to an exciting and innovative design, giving pupils the best possible start to their chosen career.
More information on the Bexhill High School Building Schools for the Future project, including electronic copies of the 'Building for the Future' newsletter are available on Bexhill High School's website.
Further information
The application has been submitted by the County Council's Children's Services Department to the planning service in the Transport and Environment Department which advises the County Council's Planning Committee in its separate, statutory role as Planning Authority.
The 14–19 Diplomas were first introduced across the country in September last year. They are a completely new type of qualification recognised by universities and employers. They are an alternative to GCSE and A-level courses and are designed to give students life skills and help them ready themselves for the world of work.
Reference:
PR 2352
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East Sussex County Council