Councillors are set to approve a £2.6 million investment into a new education facility to help Darlington teenagers. 

Darlington Borough Council has unveiled plans to create the pre-16 centre at Darlington College for young people disengaged from education. 

The plans involve a purpose-built centre for 50 people at the Darlington College campus in the town. 

Pupils will work towards accredited qualifications, including maths and English, as well as learning hands-on skills such as construction, hair and beauty, health, social care and childcare. It is hoped this combination of subjects will engage those young people who have not flourished in mainstream school and encourage them to move into post-16 education by making them familiar with college life.

It is hoped the new facility will allow more vulnerable or challenged young people, who may not cope in mainstream college, to access education. Almost 100 pre-16 learners are already being taught at Darlington College.

Funding for the project is being delivered by the Department of Education’s High Needs Capital Grant, which was awarded to the local authority to develop provision for special educational needs or alternative provision. Schools will purchase places from the college for their pupils and the accredited qualifications students achieve will be reported as part of each school’s results.

Nick Wallis, cabinet member for children and young people, said: “This additional pre-16 provision will help young people who are disengaged with mainstream education gain qualifications that can help them progress into education and employment.

“I understand that mainstream education is not for everyone and this specialist centre will provide the right environment and support for more young people to flourish and reach their potential.”

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David Gartland, principal and chief executive of Darlington College, said: “We are working with the Darlington Schools Partnership and the council to support them and the needs of the town.

“We are proud to be a college that is embedded within the local community and this proposed skills centre is an opportunity to enable young people to flourish who don't always cope in a mainstream environment, setting them up for future success.” 

Lola McEvoy, Labour MP for Darlington, said: “One of my greatest ambitions as an MP is to make sure young people in Darlington to have the opportunity to succeed, whatever their circumstances.

“To make good on that we need to ensure that children who don’t take to classroom learning are given other routes to education and training. I’m delighted to see these plans from Darlington College are being considered.”

Councillors will discuss the proposed investment at a cabinet meeting next Tuesday (December 3).