Emmanuel college is investing more than £1m in the health and wellbeing of its students and staff in a major building project to extend its facilities.

 

New emphasis on the performing arts, and additional IT and study space for sixth form students, are also part of the scheme which is under way at Emmanuel College in Gateshead.

 

Central to the development is a programme which will provide every student with a personal health and fitness plan to include membership of the college's state-of-the-art fitness and weights rooms.

 

Principal Jonathan Winch explained: "Each student will have their own key, giving them access to a personalised training programme on the very latest strength and cardio equipment, designed especially for their individual capabilities.

 

"It will keep a record of their progress so that we can pass on information to parents about their child's physical development. In line with our personal best philosophy, students will be rewarded for improvement rather than simply raw ability."

 

Students will have access to the Fitness Club at lunchtimes and outside school hours as well as in taught lessons, and sixth formers will be able to train throughout the day.

 

Emmanuel College staff will benefit too.

 

In conjunction with the gym, which triples the size of the previous provision, an extended dining room and new servery will continue the focus on healthy choices.

 

A new Food Science lab is also being built, with access to the dining room to allow students to gain experience by catering for parents and college guests. 

 

Further developments include a drama studio so the college can offer A level drama for the first time.

 

The new studio is located next to the music department to encourage crossover within the performing arts.

 

Emmanuel's 260-strong sixth form is also to benefit from increased IT and study space, including dedicated offices for sixth form staff and senior prefects.

 

The library will be refurbished and relocated, and there will be more space to support the pastoral care of students.

 

Much of the development has been absorbed within existing space, but the staff room and seminar room will be moved to a second storey extension on top of the Sixth Form Centre.

 

Mr Winch added: "Providing space for our extremely dedicated staff to prepare, mark and train together has been a priority within this project. This is a prerequisite to providing the highest possible quality of teaching."

The investment is being paid for by the college, which is sponsored by Sir Peter Vardy's Emmanuel Schools Foundation (ESF), with some capital funding for the food facilities from the Department for Education.

 

Mr Winch explained: "Prudent financial management over the years has allowed us to build up the reserves to fund this very exciting development for the college.

 

"Emmanuel is funded in the same way as LEA schools but we are not required to deduct the amount other schools pay to the LEA for central services. Instead our central services such as human resources and accounting are provided by ESF.

 

"Our City Technology College status gives us the independence to make these decisions for the direct benefit of our students."

 

The work is due to be completed by the start of the September term.