New centre opens its doors at Haydon Bridge
16 Mar 2020 ARCHIVED (over 3 months old) - view latest news
Work is complete on a fantastic new vocational centre at Haydon Bridge High School, and the first learners are starting to hone their skills there.
The new centre is part of £4.5m worth of improvements at the school which include a new sixth form centre, new entrance and reception, new multi-use games areas and improvements to the main hall, library, sports hall changing, performing arts and learning hub areas.
The new vocational centre has been established in partnership with the council’s learning and skills service by the remodelling of an old design and technology block. This has created a teaching space to deliver courses in construction, engineering, hairdressing, beauty therapy and professional catering.
Councillor Wayne Daley, cabinet member responsible for education and skills at Northumberland County Council visited the new vocational centre recently.
Cllr Daley said: “This is a great new centre in Haydon Bridge, which will cater for hundreds of students over the coming years in skills which we hope will help them to get into employment in their local areas.
“I am extremely impressed by the quality of the equipment and the environment for learning, and also with the enthusiasm of the students I met and who are now studying their courses there.
“I know that this will be a superb asset to the school and to neighbouring communities in West Northumberland, and I would urge prospective students and families to go along and have a look around.”
Haydon Bridge High School offers a range of courses for post-16s and school leavers including a mix of traditional A-Levels together with the vocational courses which will be taught in this new centre by learning and skills service staff.
Darren Glover, headteacher at the school said: “Our Sixth Form students benefit from dedicated facilities within the school which have been greatly enhanced by these recent improvements.
“Our Sixth Form curriculum is tailored to the individual student, with a focus on enabling them to make the most of their academic and personal talents.
“We aim to offer a curriculum which ensures that every student can pursue a programme that matches their interests, career plans and abilities, and this new vocational centre will allow us to enhance this programme of activities and greatly assist students’ in their learning.”
To find out more about the vocational courses that can be studied you can contact Haydon Bridge High School to find out about engineering courses on 01434 684422. For all other vocational courses contact Northumberland County Council’s learning and skills service on 01670 622258.
The overall improvement project at the high school is part of a £5.1m investment by Northumberland County Council in schools in the Haydon Bridge Partnership.
The council also allocated £1.54m to support Haydon Bridge High School in developing a new curriculum, gaining support for leadership and management and securing training and development for staff.
In the most recent Haydon Bridge High School Ofsted visit, inspectors said that there were great improvements in key measures such as leadership, the quality of teaching and pupils attitudes.