CIRENCESTER Sixth Form College celebrated the launch of their new STEM building with TV science presenter Dallas Campbell.

The college marked their 25 years of providing post 16 education for the town with the opening of their new facility for science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) on Friday, October 21.

The STEM building houses research standard labs, a computer engineering suite and an art and design centre, alongside classrooms for wider STEM choices such as Earth Science and Psychology. 

The project, which cost £2.8 million, was jointly funded by the GFirst's Gloucestershire Growth Deal, the Education Funding Agency and the college. 

Executive Principal of Cirencester College, Kim Clifford, said: “We are extremely proud of the new STEM building which gives us exciting opportunities to expand our already excellent track record in STEM subjects.

"The college’s STEM Strategy sets out to be connected, contextualised and contemporary; serving the local priorities and needs of employers and learners by providing provision and solutions aligned to support the local economies and communities.

"It is so fitting that this coincides with the 25th anniversary of the opening of the College in 1991."

David Owen, Chief Executive of GFirst LEP commented: “To work towards closing the skills gap, it is essential that students have access to the best facilities they can, and that education providers are creating clear progression routes into industry, enabling employers to forge partnerships with schools, colleges and universities."

Local Growth Minister Andrew Percy said: “I’d urge students from Gloucestershire and the surrounding areas to make the most of the excellent training and employment opportunities it provides.”

After officially opening of the new building, Mr Campbell, delivered a guest lecture named ‘Dallas in Wonderland, Adventures in Science”.

He took his audience to the top of the world’s tallest building, to the sewers of Mexico and to experience the blast off of a Soyuz rocket.

Dallas also presented former student Marcus Jones with STEM’S highest, discretionary accolade, The Platinum Award.

This honours Marcus’s contribution as a STEM student and ambassador at the college before he left for the University of Exeter to study Astrophysics this summer.