Countess opens new £33 million sixth form college
The country’s most environmentally friendly ‘green’ sixth form college was opened on 5th November by HRH The Countess of Wessex. The new Gateway College in north Leicester will serve the whole of the city and county and provide outstanding facilities for over 1,250 16-18 year olds. Built at a cost of £33 million, the project received LSC support of £15 million.
The new building with a colourful set of ‘pods’ built around a three storey high communal space called ‘The Street’, offers the full range of environmentally friendly energy sources. The design of the building maximizes the use of natural light and ventilation and yet has brise soleil for natural shading. Direct power is generated through the use of locally sourced renewable wood chips in a biomass boiler, plus a wind turbine and a main entrance covered with photovoltaic cells. Rainwater harvesting creates ‘grey water’ for use in toilets, whilst external drainage includes natural swales. Even the IT systems are ‘environmentally advanced’ being ‘thin client systems’ with massively reduced energy needs.
As well as unveiling a plaque and signing the special visitors book, the Countess visited students in their lessons to see just what goes on in a modern ‘high-tech’ learning centre. The Countess was accompanied by Leicestershire’s Lord Lieutenant, Lady Gretton, and was shown around the building by the College Principal Nick Goffin.
The Countess, with her interest in the development of children and those with special learning needs, spent time with students working in health and social care courses and in the college’s ‘Skills Development Service’ area. The latter offers support in numeracy and literacy as well as specialist courses for students with learning difficulties and disabilities.
Image above: HRH The Countess of Wessex accompanied by College Principal Nick Goffin, meets some of the college's students.