By Shuaib Shafi
Brighton students are trying to find a new home for their college as their current building is to be demolished.
Access to Music is a government-funded music college offering vocational music qualifications for 16 to 18-year-olds. It is based at Enterprise Point in Melbourne Street.
However, part of Enterprise Point is due to be renovated to make way for housing and the college is due to close in July.
Student Zoe Parker, 22, started the campaign. She said: “We’ve been told that the head office are looking into new locations but our teachers only found out about the closure two weeks before we did so there hasn’t been much time to set anything in stone.”
Other students have also expressed their disappointment at the closure.
Izzy Finlay-Smith, 16, said: “I will not be able to complete my course and get my extended diploma there.
“I am so upset. I love studying at Access. The teachers are amazing and I have learnt so much. To see it all come to an end and know that it won’t be there for future young musicians in Brighton is dreadful.”
Access to Music issued a statement on its website saying the closure was “regrettable but unavoidable”.
It went on to say that as a tenant of Enterprise Point it has no right to appeal against the planning permission granted by Brighton and Hove City Council.
The statement finished by saying: “All students enrolled on programmes with Access to Music will complete their current qualifications this year.
“We are currently working with students who wish to continue their studies, and applicants that were due to join us this year, to identify alternative local colleges to study at from September 2016.”
Access to Music has centres around the UK and in 2014 was awarded graded outstanding by the Independent Schools Inspectorate.
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