WESTFIELD Arts College has officially opened its new base at Weymouth College.

The special school has opened a new base for its students transitioning between the school and the college’s main campus on Cranford Avenue.

It has been named Westfield Arts College @ Weymouth College.

It was opened by MP Richard Drax.

Guests enjoyed a chance to look around the facility and see what it had to offer before speeches from interim principal and Weymouth College Nigel Evans and headteacher at Westfield Arts College Andrew Penman as well as Mr Drax before he declared the centre officially open.

The new base will allow the students to use Weymouth College facilities but enjoy the security of their school to give them the best of both worlds.

After speeches and the opening, guests enjoyed refreshments that students had been helping to prepare in time for the opening.

Head of post-16s at Westfield Arts College Susie Jeffcott hailed the opening of the new base.

She said: “It’s really amazing. The main thing is bridging that gap from school to college. That is so important for them so they can come in to a college environment.”

Mr Penman joined her in praising the new facilities and thanked everyone involved in getting it off the ground.

He said: “I have to say thank you to all the students and staff that have worked so hard.
“I think it gives us the perfect start for our students in their college career. It gives them one foot in Westfield and one foot in Weymouth College.

“There’s a really positive buzz about the place. It never would have happened without a really close working relationship with the college. We have been so warmly welcomed here.”

Interim principal at Weymouth College Nigel Evans welcomed Westfield to the college campus.

He said: “Everybody gains from it. The school gains from it, the college gains from it and the students, above all, gain.

“The fact that we’re all here together is brilliant.”
Mr Drax added: “It’s a fantastic idea. They can go on to have careers of their own, that is
so important.”

Westfield students moved to the new centre at the start of the new school term.