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College Corporation supports Primary School decision

6 October 2010

City College Brighton and Hove Principal, Phil Frier, has confirmed that the College and Brighton and Hove Council have reached agreement over the future of the Connaught building in Hove. He said:

'I know that members of the City College Corporation are delighted that we've reached agreement with the City Council to keep our historic Connaught Centre in Hove in continued community use. Since we were forced to close the building in July, we have worked closely with Lead Councillor, Vanessa Brown, and Hove MP Mike Weatherley to ensure that the City Council could realise its ambition to turn the Connaught building back into a Primary school to meet the need of parents and children in that part of Hove.'

Robin Morley, Chair of the City College Corporation added:

The Connaught Centre

The Connaught Centre

'Right from the start the College has been committed to finding a solution for continued use of this important facility in Hove. In our discussions the College's Corporation has always taken the view that a Primary school would be a 'win-win' solution for everybody, and we are particularly delighted for those young families in that part of Hove.'

'I would particularly like to thank Vanessa Brown and Hove MP, Mike Weatherley for their work in ensuring that we have been able to negotiate a solution that works for all parts in the community. I know that parents in that part of Hove have been working with the MP to get across their message, and we have been working together with the Council to seek to keep open the possibility of the new school being used for Adult Education and community activities once more.'

'The exchange of ownership under lease of the Connaught and the Wilson Avenue school campus now known as City College East was an imaginative solution, and means that the two properties, both effectively in public ownership, will continue to be used for the benefit of young people and adults in the city. It is also good that we were able to work this through together so that the commercial value of the property was never considered and no money had to change hands.'

'Across the other side of the city in Whitehawk, the College is now pleased to be able to develop the City College East campus on the site of the old COMART school at Wilson Avenue for the next generation of school leavers in need of training for jobs. Over the last three years student numbers using the site have doubled as programmes have become more successful, and this has required further investment in the buildings to improve both learning and social facilities. As a result City College East has become one of our great success stories and the transformation of the buildings in recent months has been reflected in the dramatic improvement in student success rates, in the expansion of programmes, and also in the creation of a more vital atmosphere and community ethos. The success in the development of a strong educational community on this site is remarkable when one considers the difficulties that schools have had over the last 30 years on this site.'

'I think the College has demonstrated considerable community leadership in developing this site for the City and our vision is to further develop this campus for the local community in this part of the city. We already have excellent working relationships with the Whitehawk Inn, Whitehawk Football Club and other community groups, and we now have an opportunity to make this campus a focal point for learning and sporting activity for all age groups. Since 2007 our total weekly student population has tripled from around 350 in 2008 to over 1000 young people and adult student learners today. This is significantly higher than the total student roll on this site at any time in its 35 year history.'

For City College media enquiries, please call Brian Bell, Marketing Communications Officer, on 01273 667788 Ext. 488 or email bb1@ccb.ac.uk website www.ccb.ac.uk

About City College Brighton and Hove: Situated in the heart of Brighton, City College Brighton and Hove has become an international centre of vocational excellence. Every year 2,000 full-time, 10,000 part time, over 500 Higher Education and 250 14-16 year old students as well as many international and European students choose City College as their place of further and higher education training. In addition, the College provides training to over 2,000 businesses via its 'City Business Skills' department which focuses on employer training needs. Offering over 700 courses from basic level right through to business and postgraduate training, City College is working with its partners to develop the workforce of the future.