STUDENTS at a Kent college will be able to use the latest educational equipment and resources in a state-of-the-art complex that has been built on their campus.

The Hartsdown Technology College, Margate, campus expansion features three main centres and is located in a 10,000sq ft accommodation site provided by Pfizer UK, Sandwich.

It includes the Pfizer Centre, a cutting edge Information Technology Communication suite with the latest computer and communication equipment. It will be used for specialist teaching in an array of subjects, as well as for training, workshops, special learning skills projects, and ultimately for community use.

The second block is the Family Centre which will be used for families and students and where specialist attention can be paid to a range of issues affecting young people at the college.

The final block is the media centre. This will be centred around the campus purpose-built radio station that has been designed by music industry professionals. It will broadcast a mix of news, music and information to the students.

It also offers other schools the chance to use the facility to create broadcast materials that can they be played on their own computer network systems. It will also feature training facilities for those students interested in all forms of media.

The complex has been funded by Pfizer whose input of more than £100,000 is in equipment including furniture, blinds and carpets, decoration, landscaping. This is in addition to the provision of the office accommodation that was supplied free as part of its education support programme. Staff working as part of the Pfizer community project decorated the buildings.

College principal Brian Lippitt said: "Hartsdown is proud to be an educational pioneer and we have made huge strides working with cutting edge resources to expand our learning and skills base as well as interacting with other schools and teachers and the community.

"Our results in ICT and business studies at A level were the best in our history this summer and the new complex offers improved facilities for our sixth formers, the general student body, teachers and technicians.

"Pfizer is extremely supportive of educational development and we are so fortunate for its support, commitment and enthusiasm to Hartsdown. It is only fitting that the ICT centre should be named in its honour."

Students Amy Rutland and April Clemo working in the new ICT suite.
Picture: CHRIS DAVEY