ITCHEN College will provide shuttle buses to enable a return to full-time learning.

The college in Bitterne is ready to welcome students back to full time, campus-based learning by introducing a new timetable structure and a shuttle bus arrangement, enabling students to travel to and from college easily and

conveniently.

The new structure will reduce the amount of movement around the college and avoids trapped time between

lessons.

A second return journey will also be introduced on each of its seven contract bus routes to enable students to travel at times that suit their timetable commitments.

College principal Alex Scott said: “We are very aware of the limitations of remote

learning.

“Many students struggle with the social isolation and practical difficulties of working online from home, and we are very keen to get them back to the college campus.

“We plan to provide as near to a normal college experience as possible, while maintaining safety at all times.”

The strategy will enable the college to provide full classroom-based teaching, rather than delivering important course content through remote, online

learning.

Mr Scott added: “If there is a second spike or a regional outbreak of Covid-19, the new timetable structure and the shuttle bus arrangements will allow us to respond quickly and easily so that teaching and learning remain effective.

“These young people have had their routines and their learning seriously disrupted, and we must now do all we can to enable them to return to face-to-face learning and prepare them for their next step.”