New construction and engineering centre opens

Rotherham College's new building contains several workshops for bricklaying, carpentry and joinery

A new centre specialising in construction and engineering has opened at Rotherham College - bringing teaching together at the same site for the first time.

The two floors of space at the Clifton building on Eastwood Lane include practical learning areas as well as classrooms.

The centre also has digital suites for computing, and its completion means all of the college's students will be taught at the same campus.

Construction courses were previously based at the Rawmarsh Road site.

Speaking about the new facilities, joinery student Harrison Woodcock said: "The machines and tools are a lot better, it makes it a lot easier to work.

"In the old workshop they were no good to use really, but this upgraded workshop is miles better, and makes it easier for everyone to learn."

The college offers several T Level courses in heating engineering, plumbing and electrical installation.

The new teaching areas also benefit students on computing, games design and animation courses.

The college offers game design courses which are taught in the new upgraded digital suites

Games design lecturer Shane Whittington said the new technology helped his students test their work to a professional standard.

"Previously we didn't have that so we were not able to test in the way that we should have done."

The centre also has changing areas and showers for students who dress in workwear for their practical lessons.

The college's director of campus, Keith Sanderson, added: "We want everyone to achieve the goals that they can achieve and they shouldn't really have any barriers to that."

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