A NEW collaboration is set to bring a new lease of life to state-of-the-art facilities in a Tyne Valley town that have long been underused.

Collingwood School and Media Arts College, which is based in Morpeth, has expanded its post education offer by working with the Fuse in Prudhoe.

The Fuse is a specialist media centre located next to Prudhoe High School, featuring TV, radio, and recording studios as well as a cinema.

The college will use the facility for the 2020/21 academic year as a trial. It means it will be able to offer students alternative learning opportunities in the digital world, including digital graphics, pre-production skills, photography, video and sound sequencing, and storytelling through comic strips.

Gillian Linkleter, Headteacher said: “This is an exciting opportunity for us. It is a great space for learning and it means we can offer students a two-day a week, hands on learning programme. It has the facilities and the same industry-standard media equipment that the students are used to using at School, thus continuing their technical development but within a work place environment.

“These skills, added with the employability, enterprise and work skills courses, they will study at Manor Walks Shopping Centre in Cramlington, combined with work experience days will really help our students take those next steps in moving on to further education or opportunities in the workplace.

“Working together with the Council has opened up new opportunities for all the students and pupils, at Collingwood. It is an exciting time and we are really looking forward to making the most of it.”

The move has also been welcomed by Northumberland County Council. Councillor Guy Renner-Thompson, Cabinet Member with responsibility for Children’s Services added: “We are really pleased to be welcoming Collingwood School and Media Arts College on board for the next year.

"As a council we feel it is important that the space is given priority use for digital learning, and this collaboration means we can do exactly that.

"I look forward to seeing what skills are learnt from this programme, and what these young people take away from their learning here over the next year.”

Cath McEvoy-Carr, Executive Director for Adult and Children’s Services continued: “We are really pleased to be working in partnership with Collingwood School and Media Arts College.

"Being able to open up more opportunities for students in this way means we are further supporting them in their journey to work or further education."

The students will also make use of the STEM room to further enhance their maths and English qualifications.

The council is continuously reviewing how the centre can be best used for the wider community including its adult learning offer, and the availability of the wider internal spaces.

Working with Collingwood School and Media Arts College is just the first step on a journey to improve what is offered at the centre.

Coun. Gordon Stewart, who represents Prudhoe South, said: “I am delighted that the fuse building is now being used by such a highly respected School. I know this will be welcomed by the Prudhoe community.”