Northampton College is to expand its Booth Lane campus after securing government funding to create hundreds of additional student places as demand for further education grows across Northamptonshire.
The college has been awarded funding through the Department for Education’s Post-16 and Construction Skills Capacity Fund, which supports projects designed to increase capacity in areas where more post-16 places are required. Northampton College is among the providers approved for both construction and post-16 projects in the latest funding round.
The value of the award has not been disclosed.
Plans for the Booth Lane campus include an extension to the main college building, redevelopment of existing curriculum areas and new practical workshop space for construction, technology and engineering courses.
Northampton College will also add classrooms, learning areas and social facilities as part of the project. The college has not specified the exact number of additional places but says the expansion will allow it to accommodate hundreds more students over the coming years.
The development comes as further education providers face growing demand from larger numbers of young people reaching post-16 education.
Jason Lancaster, principal of Northampton College, said: “We’re seeing more young people choosing Northampton College because of the quality of our teaching, our strong links with employers and the excellent outcomes our students achieve.
“This investment means we can respond to that growing demand by creating more high-quality learning spaces and welcoming hundreds more students in the years ahead. It’s an investment in our College, but also in the future of Northamptonshire and the opportunities available to local people.
“Every young person deserves access to outstanding education that prepares them for university, apprenticeships or employment, and this funding will ensure we keep matching that ambition as demand continues to grow.”
The project is the latest investment in the college’s estate and is intended to increase teaching capacity while expanding facilities for vocational and technical education.
Northampton College says it supports around 8,000 students a year through full-time and part-time courses, apprenticeships, higher education and professional training.
The additional capacity at Booth Lane is expected to increase access to industry-focused courses, including construction and engineering training, while providing employers with a larger pool of locally trained students entering the workforce.
