Kier Construction has started work on a new build and refurbishment programme to provide a new University Technical College (UTC) for 14 to 19-year-olds in Reading.

UTC Reading's principal Joanne Harper and chair of governors, Lee Nicholls, broke the ground with MP for Reading East, Rob Wilson, and Kier Construction director, Glyn Salmon. They were joined by vice principal Wayne Edwards, new students, parents and industry partners to celebrate the start of construction to refurbish the old Thames Valley University site.

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The campus will have buildings dedicated to areas of specialism in computer science, engineering and related project work, as well as brand new centres to include facilities for music, art, model making and media. Academic and industry partners include Microsoft, Network Rail, Cisco, Peter Brett Associates, Logica (now part of CGI) and the University of Reading.

The ethos of the college is to generate a mind-set of a formal office environment with the academic day starting from 8.30am to 5.30pm.

The internal layout of the building will be reordered to suit the curriculum and handling of 600 students. Most parts of the existing building will be retained, with some minor areas of demolition to make way for a new entrance and arts block.

(CD/GK)