Looking at progress (From Romsey Advertiser)

Looking at progress

2:00pm Sunday 11th March 2012 in Basingstoke By Emily Roberts , Chief Reporter

BIG improvements have been made at a Basingstoke college – and the principal is proud to show them off.

Anthony Bravo’s high aspirations for Basingstoke College of Technology have resulted in positive changes benefiting both staff and students.

Around £3million has been spent updating a block which houses subjects such as engineering, animal husbandry and forensic science.

New science laboratories have been installed and an automotive work shop extended, as well as new classrooms created.

And more money has been spent updating the front of the college with coloured cladding.

Mr Bravo said: “We are 98 per cent there now. I have a dream that when you come past the college at night time, you will know you are in a learning zone that is lit up and bright. It will add to the image of the college.

“People ask why we spent the money on looks, but I believe that when you walk up to your place of study or work and it looks nice, you feel proud and a little flutter inside. I want my staff to feel that, and I want students to feel proud and look after the college.

“I know that looks aren’t everything, but having the college look nice will raise aspirations and expectations.”

In the newly-refurbished science and technology block, the college is hoping to soon offer a dental nursing course, which has never been available before at BCoT.

Mr Bravo is certainly not scared of change and has brought about many changes since joining the college in the summer of 2009.

Students are now employed to run the catering at BCoT, and lanyards were introduced to provide better security. Parking charges of either £1 a day or £3 a week have helped to ease the problem in the car parks, and Mr Bravo also asked all staff to pass GCSE maths and English, if they had not already, in an attempt to raise the standard of teaching.

He is now looking at a new scheme to ‘Hire a Hero’ with the aim of recruiting ex-servicemen and women and training them to teach.

Mr Bravo said: “The number of kids passing is getting higher and their grades are better. We are much better prepared for Ofsted, and my staff know what is expected of them.”