Monday March 15 2010 saw the official opening of brand new facilities at South Thames College’s Merton campus by Lord Young of Norwood Green, Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Department of Business, Innovation and Skills.
The brand-new technology facilities, costing £12 million to deliver, mark the latest phase of a £40 million investment over the last four years in developing new buildings and refurbishments. Nearly all provision across the Merton campus is now housed in buildings which are either new, or have been completely refurbished.
Lord Young said “I am delighted to be here today to open South Thames College’s new Technology Building. Investment in new facilities help to unlock talent for the future which is especially important as we look to rebuild the economy. The government is proud to have overseen such an extensive programme rebuilding 42 colleges around the country. Vocational skills are a fantastic starting point, and FE colleges such as South Thames make a real difference to individuals and strengthen the communities they serve.”
Principal Sue Rimmer added, “The opening of the Technology Block demonstrates our commitment to providing the excellent facilities that our students and staff deserve. As part of South Thames College, we will continue to invest in the future of learning at the Merton campus so that our students are well prepared for the world of work and can go on to fulfilling careers and sustainable employment.”
The new block houses Motorcycle Engineering, attracting a range of students from those joining at entry level, to courses for seasoned bike owners and enthusiasts. Over the years the college has worked with hundreds of employers delivering apprenticeships at Foundation and Advanced Level. The new facilities incorporate innovative technology such as a ‘rolling road’ to test bikes and a micro camera (similar to those used in medical surgery) for studying detailed and enclosed motorcycle parts up close.
The new building also caters for interesting and unique courses in Musical Instrument Technology. Merton campus is one of only four centres in the country offering this specialist provision creating and repairing instruments from guitars to woodwind and brass instruments. Students can now benefit from spacious workshops and fantastic equipment in order to be ready for work in this fascinating industry.
Some of the state-of-the-art facilities in the Technology Block include:
- Musical Instrument Workshops
- Motorcycle Workshop
- Mechanical and Machine Workshop
- Practical / DIY Workshop
- Manual Drawing Office – embedding technical and drafting skills into engineering programmes
- Electronics Lab – enabling students to test designs for electrical circuits.
The investment in buildings and refurbishments represents a huge step forward in providing exceptional and modern facilities to all learners, as part of South Thames College’s over-arching mission to be an ‘outstanding’ and inclusive college.
The College has invested heavily in the future of education in Merton borough. All our students now benefit from specialised facilities and a superb learning environment.
Take a look at some of the pictures below, taken since the campus opened in September 2007.
The college's plans involved the sale of one of its campuses (Central Road), with all the proceeds being spent on new premises and facilities at the remaining site (Morden Park, on London Road). Sale of the Central Road site was completed in 2007 and as a result, over £40million has been re-invested in developing our Morden Park campus - a tremendous boost for the borough of Merton and people in the surrounding area.
