A PHOENIX is set to rise from the ashes of the old Holts Mill — as a new school revolutionises education for young people.

Work to develop the state-of-the-art £10 million University Technical College (UTC) on the site of the five storey former lingerie factory in Deane Road, Bolton, is now well under way.

It is due to open in September, 2015.

Dr Zubair Hanslot, the University of Bolton’s Provost is in charge of opening the new college — and says it will provide a “great opportunity” for the town.

The UTC will specialise in health sciences — to cover the many careers in the sector including the top professions such as medics and pharmacists.

Dr Hanslot, who is urging local people to have their say on the UTC, said: “We are very excited about this.

"It is a great opportunity for the town. The UTC is different from traditional schools, it provides a high quality academic curriculum with a technical focus, with university and employers working together. It is an investment in Bolton.”

The UTC is about preparing students for work and university and students will receive a minimum of 50 days work experience a year, Dr Hanslot said the UTC would make the transition to university or work smoother because of the pupils’ experience of work.

The UTC is being backed by leading organisations such as the NHS and Dr Hanslot said that a working knowledge of the field, alongside strong qualifications would make students’ UCAS forms stand out.

Students will study high quality qualifications alongside the “vocational aspect” and have the chance to study for a professional qualification.

As well as having the latest resources, students will also benefit from university lecturers who will take classes too. He said UTCs with “academic rigour” — such as the one planned for Bolton — are seeing their students attend top universities like Cambridge.

The UTC is expected to complement and add to existing education provision for young people in Bolton — and its limit of 600 students will not be a threat to secondary school numbers.

The new complex will see the development of a “public realm area” which would mirror the landscaped area outside the main university building, Senate House. The complex will house a number of modern laboratories including science, pharmacy and dentistry.

Muhammad Riaz, aged 20, who is studying computing at the University of Bolton, said: “I think the UTC is a good idea, and I would have gone had it been available when I was younger.”

To find out more and take part in the consultation visit utcbolton.org