THE new Forest campus for Gloucestershire College will open at the Northern Quarter near Cinderford in 2018.

College chiefs reconfirmed their commitment to the move from Five Acres near Coleford, subject to securing the money to build it.

They say that, three years after the initial announcement, the project timeline is now ‘becoming clearer’.

The purpose-built campus will also house a sixth form run in partnership with Mitcheldean-based Dene Magna School.

College principal, Mat­thew Burgess, said: “I am pleased to be able to reconfirm Gloucestershire College’s commitment to creating an outstanding purpose-built post-16 educational facility in the Cinderford Northern Quarter.

“I recognise that there have been delays in starting the build due to factors outside of our control, but we are working closely with the Gloucestershire Local Enterprise Partnership to secure the final element of funding required and I am confident that we will be on site later this year, ready to welcome students into our new campus for September 2018.

“Our focus is now on ensuring the new campus build starts as soon as possible, and developing a new sixth form offer in partnership with Dene Magna, as well as a new technical curriculum offer that ensures students leave us well prepared and ready to progress into higher education or to succeed in the world of work.”

Dene Magna’s headteacher, Stephen Brady said: “This announcement is fantastic news for the Forest of Dean.

“We are delighted that our joint commitment to this project is finally paying off and we can start to plan for the delivery of the A-Level provision for learners in the Forest.

“The partnership will begin with us offering A-Level PE, taught by Dene Magna staff in September 2017, and our staff will be working with Gloucestershire College staff as this partnership grows to

develop other courses. 

“It will be so exciting to be able to add elements that we feel make Dene Magna an outstanding school to the best practice of Gloucestershire College, so that learners in the Forest of Dean can remain in this area for the highest quality post-16 provision.

“Having seen these plans take shape over time, we are confident that this will be a pivotal moment for education in the Forest of Dean.”

Alongside the new sixth form, technical training facilities will include specialist art studios, con-

struction workshops, industry standard training kitchens, ICT suites, a contemporary learning resource centre, and teaching spaces for healthcare, early years and outdoor education, plus hairdressing and beauty therapy salons and a student-run restaurant open to the public.

The college’s assistant principal, Sandra Tyrrell said: “We know that the Forest of Dean is a hotspot for tourism, and that tourism can provide a wide range of attractive careers paths, so it makes sense that it is a key focus across our catering and hospitality, construction, outdoor adventure and business offer.

“The new campus will continue to focus on the needs of the local community, and with this in mind, over the coming months we will be working with schools, young people, parents, businesses and local stakeholders, to get their views and ideas on the college’s future offer.”

The Five Acres campus will remain open and fully operational while the new college is being built.