A £2.6 million investment into a new education facility has been praised for providing Darlington teenagers with better career prospects.

Darlington Borough Council approved the multi-million funding pledge 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 yet to flourish in mainstream school and encourage them to move into post-16 education by making them familiar with college life.

The new facility will also 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.

Nick Wallis, cabinet member for children and young people, said the plans are part of a “very important initiative” to ease pressures on school budgets. 

“When I talk to headteachers at secondary schools around the town they tell me about the pressure of finding alternative provision for young people who find school difficult,” cllr Wallis told a Tuesday cabinet meeting. 

“There is a lack of choice out there. Partnering with the college to create this facility will certainly help with assisting young people and provide alternative provision that meets their needs. 

Green Party councillor Matthew Snedker said the demand for alternative education provision across Darlington has increased markedly over recent years. “The ability to offer this level of provision at Darlington College is much welcomed,” he added. 

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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.

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.”