A MULTI-MILLION-POUND revamp of Oxford’s largest further education college has been given the go-ahead.

Approval for the £6m redevelopment of Oxford & Cherwell Valley College's Oxpens Road campus comes as the organisation is set to relaunch under a new name and with new principals.

From November, the campuses at Oxpens Road and Blackbird Leys will become City of Oxford College, while the other two sites will be known as Banbury and Bicester College.

The group managing the two colleges, plus Reading College and University Technical College Reading, opening in September, will be called Activate Learning Group.

Sally Dicketts, currently principal of the college and, from August 1, group chief executive, said: “The idea is to have a large organisation with all the advantages of investment in IT and investment in buildings, operated as local institutions.”

Ian Francis, current vice-principal, will be principal of City of Oxford College while Rose Turner, vice-principal of Reading College, will lead Banbury and Bicester College.

The Oxpens Road campus will have a hair and beauty salon, fitness centre and cafe, along with a new reception, student services area and employment hub. Work is due to start in September and should be completed by September 2014.

Ms Dicketts, who was made a CBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours, said: “When you are sitting next to Oxford University and look into the money put into their buildings you see the inspiration – people do feel a higher status when they go into a nicer environment.”

Oxford & Cherwell Valley College has 14,800 students and applications are up 14 per cent for next year’s courses.

Hundreds of pupils and staff members had their say on the changes during workshops.

NEW PRINCIPALS

Ian Francis, 49, is married with three grown-up children and lives in Oxford.

He has been at the college for nine years and vice-principal for three, and said he was “thrilled” about his appointment.

He said: “It is a great opportunity for all of us.

“Alongside academic achievement we believe it is depth of character, grit and determination which will determine success in the future so we want to make sure we give them a rounded education but also have the behaviours and mindset to be successful.”

He said the college was working closely with specific companies for the new facilities and would be trying to ensure youngsters had more real world projects and “live briefs” as part of their learning.

Rose Turner, 58, is married with two grown-up children.

She currently lives between Reading and Oxford and is planning to move to a village close to Banbury to live within the community.

She said: “We need to work more closely with businesses in the community to listen to their skills shortages and adapt our curriculum offer to meet those skills shortages.

“We have to make sure the young people of Banbury and Bicester stand a better chance because what we will find in the next few years is people from Europe, from all sorts of countries that didn't used to come to the UK, will be coming here for job opportunities.”