Students at Launceston College are on their way to becoming world-class chefs thanks to the College’s new industry-standard facilities.

The academy, a member of Athena Learning Trust, has officially launched a brand-new suite of outstanding catering facilities, science, and modern foreign languages facilities to support the learning of young people in Launceston and surrounding areas. 

To celebrate the grand opening, celebrity chef Paul Ainsworth, who is chef-patron of Michelin-starred Paul Ainsworth at Number 6 in Padstow, visited the academy to cut the ribbon on the professional kitchen.

Professional Cookery is a popular subject choice at Launceston College, and these new facilities will undoubtedly encourage students in their dreams to cook alongside professional chefs in the world’s best kitchens.

With investment from Cornwall Council, the college has also now significantly expanded its teaching facilities, opening a brand-new three-story building to support thirteen state-of-the-art science laboratories and eight classrooms for their growing modern foreign languages department. These new facilities have been supporting eager science and language students with well-resourced learning environments and access to thrilling practical experiments in their laboratories.

Across the college, support for students with high level special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) has also been prioritised with an expansion of its “Castle Unit” Area Resource Base (ARB), which provides tailored and specialised provision so that more students with high level educational needs can learn alongside their friends and peers.

The college is hosting Open Evenings in September and November for prospective parents and students to tour the exceptional facilities first-hand and see what life and learning at the College is like.

Mayor of Launceston, Cllr Helen Bailey, said: “I thoroughly enjoyed visiting Launceston College and having the privilege of helping open their new school building. 

“This is an excellent investment from the College and Cornwall Council and will provide the best possible opportunities for students to pursue their future goals. It was brilliant to hear from all the students about their passion for their subjects and how excited they are to use these new facilities to learn and develop new skills.” 

Jenn Burn, principal at Launceston College, said: “Over the past year we have really focused on investing in the best possible facilities and opportunities for all our students, so they are supported in pursuing and achieving their full potential throughout their journeys.

“It was great to welcome members of our community, representatives from the local authority and Paul Ainsworth to Launceston College to celebrate our recent expansions and demonstrate the excellent curriculum offering we have. 

“I’d like to extend a huge thank you to all our staff, students, and supporters who made the event and this year such a resounding success.”