College reveals expansion plans as more students seek ' quality teaching and learning'

Bolton Sixth Form College opened its new £14 million modern campus in September 2010 and is now seeking permission to build a four-storey extension at the back of the building.

The new area will provide, social spaces as well as teaching area.

The £3 million plans are said to reflect the success of the sixth form college ­— Bolton's only standalone sixth form ­— since the new town centre campus opened just over eight years ago.

Today its success in recruiting and attracting students means that the college is now at capacity and cannot take on any more young people without extending the existing building.

Chairman of governors Martyn Cox said: "The plans reflect that Bolton Sixth Form College is a good place for young people to go to and get a quality education experience, which is ultimately good teaching and a good environment, where students feel safe and looked after."

The extension, paid for mainly by the college, will allow around 200 to 300 more students to be taken on.

"The plans will allow more students to stay and study in the town if we can expand the campus, said Cllr Cox.

Cllr Cox said the plans also reflected the success and growth of the education zone, made up of the academic Bolton Sixth Form College, further education at Bolton College and higher education provided by the university.

He said he hopes in the future that the environment can be enhanced further for the young people studying in the area.

He said: "We need really good outdoor facilities, the Education Zone is awash with young people and there is no such space for them to use."

Bolton Sixth Form College is graded good by Ofsted which found achievement is high. It has a growing demand for students wanting to read STEM — science, technology, engineering and maths ­— subjects led to the development of a new science laboratory.

Bolton Council's planning committee will rule on the plans.