A COLLEGE is set to receive nearly £700,000 to repair its leaky roofs and broken windows.
Basingstoke College of Technology (BCoT) will benefit from part of a £307 million investment from the Labour Government, with £679,742.29 earmarked to repair leaky roofs, fix broken windows and upgrade outdated heating systems.
Luke Murphy, MP for Basingstoke, said: "I’m delighted to have worked with the Labour government to secure vital investment for BCoT – the heart of further education in Basingstoke.
Modernising college facilities is part of Labour’s wider ambition to reduce classroom disruptions, create more comfortable learning environments and help students reach their potential.
The UK government has set a goal for two-thirds of young people to be in a "gold standard" apprenticeship or at university by age 25.
BCoT is one of 175 colleges across England set to benefit from the funding, with the college given the flexibility to prioritise its own most urgent repairs.
The investment is part of Labour’s larger £1.7 billion commitment to modernise college buildings nationwide by 2030.
Luke Murphy said: "I back Labour’s bold target to get two-thirds of young people to be taking a gold standard apprenticeship or heading to university by the age of 25."
Skills Minister Jacqui Smith emphasised the importance of supporting both students and teaching staff.
Ms Smith said: "The young people in these colleges are the engineers, bricklayers and designers of the future, and they and the dedicated staff teaching them deserve the best possible environment to learn and succeed.
"This £307 million investment will repair and modernise facilities across all 175 colleges in England, giving young people the spaces they need to build the skills they need for good careers, helping to drive economic growth."
The funding announcement comes on the heels of a separate £570 million package to expand college capacity and widen opportunities for young people.
Labour’s Post-16 Education and Skills White Paper promises further reforms to raise standards in further education, including structured professional development for FE teachers and a minimum of 100 hours of face-to-face English and maths for students without a GCSE pass.
The government also recently unveiled plans for new "V levels"—vocational qualifications designed to offer flexible pathways by combining academic and technical learning.
Funding will be distributed to BCoT in due course.
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