Strode College in Street welcomed Gillian Keegan, Minister for Apprenticeships and Skills, to open its Digital Media and Technology Centre with MP James Heappey, Minister for the Armed Forces and local MP, in attendance.

Gillian and James had a tour of the high tech facilities and met the students studying new Digital and Education T Levels.

Strode College is not only one of the first providers of new T Levels technical qualifications, but was also successful in a bid for £1 million funding from the T Level capital fund.

The college has been able to transform an old, dark and inefficient 1960s building into a bright, modern and airy specialist centre for Digital Media and Technology because of this funding.

Among the additional facilities are:

· Two, dedicated Apple Mac learning suites

· Two, large classrooms

· A dedicated radio recording studio, TV studio and mixing suite

· Two, high end IT labs to support the Digital T Levels, including a separate network for students

· Four, well equipped IT classrooms

· Significant energy efficiency improvements to the building

· And extended specialist childcare learning facilities to include child toilets and lunch area to facilitate the integration of the nursery into the T Level delivery

Gillian Keegan said: "It was fantastic to visit Strode College to open their new Digital Media and Technology Centre with local MP James Heappey.

"The high tech facilities were brilliant and it was great to meet the pioneering T Level students. The students had lots of enthusiasm for how these T Level qualifications will take them to the next level in their chosen careers."

James Heappey said: "It was great to be back at Strode College with my colleague from the Department for Education, Gillian Keegan, to open the new Digital Media and Technology Centre.

"I am so impressed with this fantastic facility and great to be able to show Gillian the excellent work ongoing in Somerset."

Liam Hardy, Strode's estates manager, said: "The estates team worked tirelessly over the spring and summer during the period of lockdown working with the builders and designers to deliver the enhanced facilities for C Block which we were able to do having received £1 million from the T Level capital fund."

Katy Quinn, principal and CEO, said: "I am incredibly proud of what the staff and students at Strode have achieved.

"The official opening of our new T Level facilities is a key milestone in the launch of these new, high quality technical qualifications.

"We are delighted to have had such a successful start to our T Level journey, which will continue to be rolled out over the coming years.

"Strode College has a long, established reputation for outstanding academic provision - we must also ensure young people have access to the highest quality technical education too.

"It's important that our courses prepare students for employment, leading into strong careers, as well as courses which provide excellent routes into university. Our offer of A-levels and vocational and technical courses mean our students have that choice."