Members of the Exeter and South Devon Centre paid a recent visit to the new £28 million secondary school currently under construction by Interserve Building at Torquay Community College.

The new glass and pre-cast concrete school is being built in the grounds of the existing 1938 Audley Park building and will incorporate the latest innovations in environmental and education facilities.

Members were addressed by the College Principal Gill Battye who outlined the procurement process. After extensive research the school opted for a collection of ‘pod’ schools where year groups have their own separate wings of the building linked by a central 'Street'. Instead of students going to different areas of the college for a variety of subjects, they will be taught in their own 'pods'.

-- Advertisement --

Ms Battye said: "We will only get one chance to build our new school and we wanted to ensure we got it right. Students and staff were all asked for their input into what features they wanted in the new buildings. Without exception they all wanted a light and airy environment in which to work."

Other wings house sections for IT, Arts, Music & Drama and practical skills such as motor mechanics, construction and hair and beauty.

Photovoltaic cells, automatic windows and rainwater collection have been installed to reduce the future running costs of the building. The first pupils move in next January. Existing buildings will then be demolished to make way for future phases of the new build.

(CD/KMcA)