The Clitheroe imes '.Thursday, December 27th, 2007 No. 6,335 news and views from the Centre of the Kingdom www.clitheroeadvertiser.co.uk Price 65p Wl


Presenting our M lE S I-E IE i competition • Bathroom suite


• Dining table and six chairs


SEE PAGES 32,33


• Fascia boarding and guttering


• A dishwasher A double bed < Corner group suite • Lap top computer Super centre nearer


______ by Faiza Afzaal A MULTI-MILLION pound


plan for a super Vocational Learning Centre in the heart of the Ribble Valley has moved a


step closer to reality. And officials behind the state-of-


the art project have adopted a bold vision for the future that will result in learners equipped with skills and qualifications to be “employable for life”. A planning application has been


submitted to Ribble Valley Borough Council for “The Aspire Centre” - a 21st Century education and training facility, to be built a t the Barrow Brook Business Village, off the A59. Ribble Valley secondary schools,


led by Ribblesdale High School Technology College, Clitheroe, have been working together for some time on the ambitious project, which, if all goes to plan, will see the construc­ tion of a brand-new learning centre enabling both young learners and adults to benefit from a varied range of vocational subjects without leav­ ing the Ribble Valley. Apart from Aspire, the application


includes incubator offices for new small businesses, live-work apart­


ments, a children’s nursery and hous­ ing specifically for local people. Mr Simon Smith, headteacher at


Ribblesdale High, believes the Aspire Centre, which has won the backing of local secondary schools and employers in the community, is being developed to meet the needs of local employers, embed vocational and applied learning and meet the needs of the Government’s 14 to 19 education agenda. He says it will also help develop the skills of the local workforce. “It is a fantastic opportunity for


those within the education sector to develop and deliver courses, qualifi­ cations and learning programmes, so that the young people in this part of Lancashire will be highly-skilled and qualified to be employable for life,” he commented. “We know that in 15 years’ time


there will be jobs available which do not exist a t the moment; conse­ quently we have a duty to do some­ thing about that. Rather than pre­ pare young people for a job for life, we want to prepare them for life-long learning and the Aspire Centre will help us to achieve this ambition.” Under the plans, the purpose-built


facility will help deliver a range of vocational qualifications and several


of the new diplomas, which are soon to be introduced. “We will have several learning


areas, which reflect diploma qualifi­ cations such as hospitality and cater­ ing, leisure and tourism, media, engi­ neering, construction and hair and beauty,” explained Mr Smith. “We envisage that our courses will


be open to learners from far and wide, young and old, skilled and unskilled with collaboration being the bedrock for delivery.” The development will boast many


21st Century learning areas, includ­ ing provision for a lecture theatre, IT suite and cafeteria. The latest planning application for


the site by Newclose Properties shows proposals based on a “win win” philosophy according to New- close director, Mr Ian Joyce. He added: “We are certainly con­ scious of our community and social


responsibilities and have worked in collaboration with a v ar ie ty of stakeholders for the plans to demon­ strate community cohesion and a forward thinking vision for the 21st Century.” Proposals for the project are sub­


AN artist’s


impression of the new centre,


above, and left, a delighted Mr Smith


(A250906/6a)


ject to planning consent, however if everything goes to plan, the Aspire Centre should be open by September 2009. More details about the scheme


will follow in the Clitheroe Advertis­ er and Times.


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