Camilla takes tour of college's estate (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Camilla takes tour of college's estate

Ref. 27897/1CHIPPENHAM NEWS: A ground-breaking project to help expelled teenagers return to education was praised by Camilla Parker Bowles as she toured Wiltshire College Lackham this week.

Mrs Parker Bowles opened the agricultural college's new £167,000 building on Monday. The facility will be mainly used by 14-to-16- year-olds who no longer attend school.

After the ribbon-cutting ceremony she spoke to students and walked around parts of the 860-hectare estate.

Mrs Parker Bowles, a close friend of Prince Charles, saw work in the floristry workshops, animal centre and walled gardens before viewing exhibits at Lackham's museum of agriculture and rural life.

She said: "I'm thrilled to be here especially because I'm a neighbour, living on the other side of the river. I'm incredibly impressed by all the work that has been done here.

"It is a wonderful opportunity for young people to have facilities like this. I hope it's going to be a lesson to other places to catch up and do the same."

During her visit Mrs Parker Bowles spoke to one 17-year-old, who is studying a first diploma in agriculture.

He said: "I was looking at tractors on the internet and she asked me about them. I was quite nervous about talking to her, but she was very pleasant."

Students in the new building's workshop presented a wooden planter to Mrs Parker Bowles after showing her how to make one.

Teacher Paul Swift, who was helping teenagers to put the planters together, said: "This building is really good news for the lads who work here because it helps them learn practical things and produce good quality work."

Head of horticulture Carl Gill gave Mrs Parker Bowles a tour of the greenhouses, which included a glimpse of the college's record-breaking giant lemons.

"She also saw clivias which she said was one of her favourites because of the orange flowers," said Mr Gill.

Wiltshire College principal George Bright said youngsters were pleased with the new facilities.

He said: "They have responded enormously well to this investment. The Learning Skills Council is taking a great interest in the development of this work as part of the government's strategy to engage more young people in learning.

"Many young people have struggled with their education but this facility brings them into a different environment where they can be taught in small groups and helped to progress."

The building, which is separated into a workshop, four classrooms and a computer room, opened in November and is being used for tutorial work and the development of literacy, numeracy and IT skills.

Bryan McGinity, chairman of the Wiltshire and Swindon Learning and Skills Council, which has come up with about £1m to fund three projects for 14--to-16-year-olds in the county, said: "Quite a lot of youngsters drop out and go out of the system. We had some funds available to help these people get back into it."