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Ed Balls visits new college campus

Schools minister Ed Balls was on Tyneside last week to visit Gateshead College’s new Baltic Campus.

The Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families was at the £39 million centre, which officially opened earlier this month, upon recommendation by Tyne Bridge MP David Clelland.

Mr Clelland was so impressed with the new campus on Gateshead Quays when he visited in the spring that he invited the minister to pay a visit.

Mr Balls said: “I was hugely impressed by the new facilities at Gateshead College and the Principal and college staff showed real passion and commitment. I know the new £39 million campus will help to get the Diploma off to a great start.”

Gateshead College Principal David Cheetham and Mr Balls sat down to discuss the implementation of the new 14 to 19 Diplomas. Starting in September 2008, the new Diplomas aim to provide young people with knowledge, understanding and hands-on experience of sectors that they are interested in, while putting new skills into practice.

David Cheetham said: “It is an honour to welcome the schools minister to our new Baltic Campus. It was our dream to build an iconic new college for the people of Gateshead and we feel we have exceeded all expectations.

“The visit by Mr Balls provides the opportunity to show how well prepared we are for the introduction of the new vocational Diplomas commencing in September and our impressive range of world class education and training facilities.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .