A new Sixth Form Centre offering Level 3 students a dedicated space to work and socialise was officially opened recently at Bishop Auckland College by Helen Goodman MP. The centre which includes an advanced study area, a research area with new computers and a socialising hub, is located by the £500,000 Gateway for Higher Education Centre opened last year by the University of Sunderland, on the floor of the college’s Woodhouse Lane campus. It is one of a number of new developments this term designed to further improve facilities for students following the opening of the new £32m campus in 2007. The MP for Bishop Auckland was shown round the centre by College Principal Anne Isherwood as 30 Sixth Form Students tried out the new facilities. Cutting the ribbon, Mrs Goodman said, “I am delighted to be officially opening Bishop Auckland College’s new Vocational Sixth Form Centre. The college is on a journey to becoming outstanding and this new facility will inspire all students to progress to university and employment.” The College has 200 sixth form students and is now recruiting school leavers for the September 2012 intake.