Outstanding Nelson and Colne College Sixth Form has officially opened its new facilities this week, meaning that students studying there will enjoy even greater success!

In February 2015, Nelson and Colne College Sixth Form held a special VIP event to officially ‘launch’ its new facilities. The College already has an incredible national reputation for excellence and has recently been named within the top 1% of schools and colleges nationally in the 2015 Alps report. Now students at the college are set to benefit from even greater facilities, with a new 3G sports pitch, renovated STEM wing and modern link building with additional study areas.

MP Andrew Stephenson welcomed visitors and officially ‘cut the ribbon’ on the new facilities. VIP guests included Debbie Corcoran, Head of Employer & Delivery Services at the Skills Funding Agency, Head teachers and STEM contacts from local Pendle schools, College Governors and the contractors responsible for completing the build project, including CRE UK, BES Designs, Barnfield Construction, Ellis Williams Architects.

After a bucks fizz reception, visitors were given a tour of the outstanding new facilities for STEM subjects. In Chemistry, they witnessed an exploding custard demonstration, in the Biology labs they met the College’s menagerie of animals and learnt about the origins of the Earth with a Geology display. Moving on to the Physics Lab, they enjoyed a demonstration using the College’s Rubenas Tubes. Visitors then visited Computing and Mathematics workshops to see students and tutors in their classroom setting.

College Principal Amanda Melton said, “It has been a fantastic month for the College, with the publication of both The Alps and Department for Educations League Tables reaffirming our strong position on a national scale. I am thrilled that we are able to help the young people of Pendle to develop their skills to a high standard, and that as a results, East Lancashire has talented and successful young people to be proud of. These new facilities will allow us to provide even better education to our students and I hope they will inspire them to go on to even greater success!”

Pendle MP Andrew Stephenson said, “Everyone in Pendle can be very proud of the achievements of Nelson and Colne College, who continue to outperform all expectations.  I was delighted to pay tribute to the Governors, staff and students for their tireless efforts and see the fantastic new facilities being used.”