Bracknell

The project to rebuild Garth Hill College in Bracknell Forest will take another step forward this week (Tuesday 24) if the Executive give the go ahead to find specialist contractors to design and build the new college.

The Department for Education and Skills (DfES) has made £33.2 million available for the Bracknell school which is expected to open in 2010.

The multi-million pound project will involve constructing a brand new school, which will provide top class education and sports facilites. Once finished, the old school buildings will then be demolished.

As well as providing the standard school education, the college will be able to offer much more.

The new college will have the potential to be open for longer hours and the Council hopes it will be able to provide arts, sports and library activities to engage young people and the wider community.

The Bracknell building will consist of flexible spaces that can be used for a multitude of activities - meetings, events, recreation and of course as standard class rooms.

Materials, colour, space and storage will be carefully considered to get the most out of the building.

Tony Eccleston, Director of Education, Children's Services and Libraries, said: "I am looking forward to the next step of the project which will really see the design and concept progress.

"I am very excited about the brand new college and am sure that everyone at Garth Hill and in the local community is looking forward to seeing the finished building in 2010!"

Cllr Alan Ward, Executive Member for Bracknell Education and Libraries, said: "Garth Hill College is going to be an outstanding building.

"This project is a very exciting one for Bracknell Forest. It is happening around regeneration of the town centre and its close proximity to the town centre.

"We know that the local community are going to be very proud of this brilliant education facility in their midst."

The project is being run under the DfES Building Schools for the Future programme. This sets out how every secondary school in the country, including Bracknell Forest's six secondaries, will be rebuilt or renewed over the next 15 years.

Bracknell Forest Borough Council