A GROWTH in enrolment figures at Stratford College has inspired improvements to its facilities.
The college says a growth of 150 full time students in September, with application numbers this year already at record levels, has encouraged governors to approve a further £2million investment – bringing it to a total of more than £10million in the last three years.
The plans involve a staged refurbishment over the next three years, in which unsuitable buildings will be demolished and those retained upgraded, with new specialist equipment provided. The news comes less than a month after the three-year anniversary of the merger between Stratford College and Solihull College.
The college can increase the investment thanks in part to a £760,000 grant from Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership, to contribute to a brand-new construction centre and to enhance creative and digital facilities including a new TV and radio studio.
The college also received planning permission this week for the construction centre to support the skills needs of the Stratford area.
And it will be submitting its bid to the Department of Education for capital following a condition survey undertaken by an independent external company.
Spokeswoman Lindsey Stewart said: “We inherited a poor estate and outdated equipment, however we have recently completed £4million of capital works for phases one and two. We plan a further three phases and I’m delighted that as well as out first-class creative provision in many arts related disciplines, such as music and theatre production, performing arts and media, we are also seeing significant growth in our health and social care, construction, motor vehicle, business and computing provision. These are exciting times for the college and for the Stratford community.
