DIGNITARIES, pupils and industry representatives descended on a Workington school earlier this month, to see the grand opening of a host of new classroom facilities that the school has created for pupils.
The 1,901 sq m single storey new build at the Energy Coast UTC in Lillyhall, Workington, accommodates six large-scale teaching workshops.
All of the workshops are kitted out with industry standard machinery and digital technology that will allow pupils to have a real world understanding in their lessons.
Alongside the new build, new physical education facilities and a sports pitch were opened at the Lillyhall site.
Workington MP Mark Jenkinson said he was delighted to see the key investment that had been given to 'what is one of the best UTCs in the country'.
He said: "It’s great to see to see huge government investment in what is one of the best UTCs in the country - an exemplar of what can be achieved when we play to people's strengths.
"This is levelling up in action - bringing opportunity, which has not been evenly spread across the country, to the huge array of talent.
"Listening to the firsthand experience of pupils, who attribute their achievements directly to the opportunity offered by the UTC and by Cherry and her fantastic team, made me incredibly proud to host such a wonderful asset in my constituency.
"I know that the UTC will continue to go from strength to strength."
The facilities with give pupils of all year groups in the school the ability to have a more 'hands on' understanding of industry.
15-year-old Harry Piggot, who had recently started at the school, has found the facilities 'very inspiring' and has helped him focus on a career in industry.
He said: "It's very inspiring - we are looking forward to starting in the new facilities and I think that they will be used very well."
Former pupils of the school were invited on the opening ceremony to recount their experiences of the UTC and tell dignitaries how they feel the school has helped them in their careers.
Former UTC pupil Abbie Newton, who now works as an apprentice construction supervisor said: "I think these new facilities are absolutely outstanding and I think they are going to be very valuable for the students present and future.
"It will be really beneficial when the pupils go for job interviews and they have all this technical experience."
Abbie credits much of her success to the support that she had at the school. She said: "It's an absolutely amazing school, all the staff and everything they couldn't be more suppportive, the values and everything are just absolutely amazing."
Barabara Stephens, chair of the governing body at Energy Coast UTC, believes this is a positive next step in the journey of the school.
She said: "We have gone from being a school that was in some disarray to being outstanding across the board for Ofsted now. We have no young people here that didn't go into education of training - 90 per cent of our young people last year went into apprenticeships.
"We are just thrilled - we think that we are changing lives.
"The new facilities are really beautifully equipped, well laid out and the teachers and pupils are just really looking forward to getting in."
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