New Developments at Brooklands Technical College

It was wonderful to see the impressive new developments both completed and in progress at the Brooklands technical College. £45m has been committed into the Weybridge campus providing new classrooms, sports hall, gym, community hub and a Special Educational Needs and Disabilities facility.

Suzanne and I were given a tour by Christine Ricketts, Principal & CEO, of some or the varied activities studied; including construction, car maintenance, hair-dressing, beauty salons, hospitality and many more. Although the college mainly caters for 16-18 year olds, it also has over 500 adults which attend in the evenings and some seventy 14-16 year olds which attend up to 13 hours of classes a week of having previously been home-schooled, or have struggled in mainstream education. This latter initiative of providing alternative learning is to be greatly applauded as it significantly helps reduce the risk of a young person becoming NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training) by providing opportunities not usually available until they leave school. Whilst we were on our tour we met a group of 14-16 year olds having a hairdressing lesson and all were diligently focussed and clearly enjoying the experience.

Meisha Harding is the Director for Foundation and Pathways co-ordinating the interaction with schools and parents to allow these young people to flourish and is pictured on the left here with Christine and myself.