Doncaster Free Press article 13th November 2020.

First pictures show Doncaster University Technical College students in the site's newly opened town centre building These are the pictures that show Doncaster’s University Technical College is finally up and running – in its own purpose built building. By David Kessen - Friday, 13th November 2020, 4:45 pm

After the college spent its first two months based in the National College for Advanced Transport Infrastructure at Doncaster Lakeside, its pupils have now made the switch to the new, purpose built building in Doncaster town centre. These pictures show students relaxing in the new post 16 common room on the top floor of the new building. In the background, the panoramic window shows the view across Doncaster from the top of the new building.

The pictures show a group of students who were rewarded with a dinner for their outstanding attitude to learning since the college opened in October. It was one of the first events to be held in the state-of-the-art college building.

Helen Redford-Hernandez, the chief exeutive of the trust which run the college, Brighter Futures Learning Partnership Trust, said: “It is brilliant – it’s fantastic.” The building’s opening means that the youngsters at the college have finally got their hands on the state of the art engineering equipment which has been installed in the new building, situated on the corner of Waterdale and College Road. Mrs Redford-Hernandez said: “I feel lessons are really good. Myself and the principal, Garath Rawson, have interviewed the students, and they are loving it. "We’ve now just had a post 16 vitual open evening as well. Some of the students did a presentation to year 11s. We are running a number of those in the next few weeks, and the feedback has been phenomenal.” Employers have now started running talks to pupils – but they are currently being carried out remotely due to coronavirus restrictions. “It looks good, the staff are confident, and we have fantastic technology and engineering equipment to deliver projects, and an enrichment programme has started, which will have guest speakers.” The first intake of 180 pupils started at NCATI in October. The move to College Road ends four years of waiting, since Doncaster Chamber first lodged a bid to the Government for the college, which will teach engineering skills, in 2016.

Posted: 13 November, 2020

You may also be interested in...