Stunning campus that's fit for purpose

Forget the image of spotty students munching on burgers and crisps while glued to the TV.

A new college campus has been created with health and fitness in mind where youngsters can hit the gym before enjoying a luxurious facial and massage.

The new Sports Centre Academy and Spa Academy are opening next week at the Wellington Road campus of Wolverhampton College.

As well as three new classrooms there is a four-court sports hall, dance studio, well-equipped gym and a spa with jacuzzi, steam room, sauna and three therapy suites.

Some of the students at the college have already been testing out the facilities.

Heather Whitehouse, aged 32, who is on the NVQ level three personal trainer course, says the new machines are better than in most gyms.

"The treadmills have settings on them which allow you to walk the equivalent of around the world or up Kilimanjaro," says Heather who lives in Warstones.

It costs £8 a month for students and £21 for the public to use the gym and spa. Students, who are all working towards fitness qualifications, are on-hand to act as personal trainers.

The gym uses the latest Life Fitness equipment which allows users to store their training information and progress on a memory stick so each machine adjusts to their level.

Student Charlotte Parton, 18, from Finchfield, says the equipment will help prepare them for the real world of work. "Because our work is based around the equipment we are able to learn in a realistic environment," she says."

The next plan for the Wellington Road campus is to create a Premiership standard all-weather football pitch.

The Football Development Centre will be open to the public this summer but will also be used by Wolves Women FC and Bilston Town Football League.

Principal Ian Millard says it is hoped the new Wellington Road facilities will inspire the students.

"Back in 2007 we had ambitions of what we wanted to contribute to the city and now we are starting to deliver our promises," said Ian. The Sports Centre Academy, Construction Centre and Spa Academy have cost £14.5 million and around £11 million of that has come from college funds.

The rest of the money was mainly from the Learning and Skills Council with smaller donations from agencies such as the Football Foundation.

Jordan Douglas, aged 18, who lives in Chapel Ash, is on the NVQ Level three personal trainers course and is an expert at street dance. He says: "We are all really impressed with the new facilities and there have already been some members of the public use them and they loved it." Elsewhere in the city there are plans for a new facility at the Science Park on Stafford Road in Wolverhampton.

The college is teaming up with Wolverhampton University to create a new campus which will focus on manufacturing, engineering, computing and multi-media.

It is a £20 million package which will link in with the i54 business park development on Wobaston Road, Fordhouses.

Ian Millard says re-developing the different campuses in the city is similar to decorating projects in you own home.

"Once you have decorated one room in the house, then the rest of the house, which you used to be happy with, looks a bit duller," he says.

Ian says the aim is to make students confident enough to walk into a job so that they are functional from day one.

"Students don't expect to be able to use some of the best facilities in the country but that is what they have here," he says.

"We hope it will raise their ambitions and their aspirations – we are telling them that they can be the best."