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Whitby college students to benefit from £500,000 jackpot
WHITBY Community College has been awarded £500,000 to shape the futures of the district's teenagers.
The cash has come from the Government's Department For Children School's and Families (DCSF) Rurality Project and will enable the college to provide courses which cannot already be accessed in Whitby but are on other people's doorsteps elsewhere in the country.
It will prevent youngsters, particularly those living in Whitby's rural areas, from travelling huge distances to attend courses which will now be offered here in town.
Of the funds awarded to North Yorkshire, Whitby was given 50%.
The money will enable the college to be prepared for the raising of the education leaving age for pupils who must remain in education or training to the age of 17 from 2013 and 18 from 2015.
The college already offers vocational subjects in hair, construction, sport, business, art and health and social care.
But they are only for younger students and the funds will now allow it to expand on all its vocational subjects to cater for post 16 year olds too.
The school also plans to introduce new subjects including a diploma in Society Health and Development and Sport and Active Leisure.
Headteacher Keith Prytherch is also in the process of submitting a further 250,000 funding bid and the school is hopeful it will be successful.
Among its plans the college intends to:
* enhance its music provision and build an extension to house a recording studio and practice rooms
* refurbish its gym to include 40,000 of fitness training equipment and a new physiology testing room to provide for a Sport and Active Leisure Diploma
* develop foundation learning courses including for post 16s as well as upgrading its kitchen provision.
* upgrade the college's ICT operating system to provide for the new decade and better ICT provision including a new computer suite for 40 students
* better ground floor provision for students
* refurbish maths rooms with an ICT upgrade, build new showers and decorate the boys' gym changing rooms.
If funds allow it also wants to enhance its drama and arts provision and extend the sports hall changing rooms.
Mr Prytherch said they will also be working closely with Caedmon and Eskdale Schools in delivering the courses.
He added: "The school's deputy head Sue Morgan and myself have had to fight to get this money to come into Whitby for the sake of the students.
"We are looking to engage more people in education and training.
"This is going to go a long way."
Some work has already begun and students will begin to benefit from September.
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Weather for Whitby
Sunday 05 February 2012
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Temperature: 1 C to 6 C
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