Vocational college in Bexhill to move to new campus at former Hastings Debenhams building
A college specialising in vocational courses for teenagers is moving from its base in Bexhill to Hastings.
Hastings Creative College (HCC), formerly DV8 Sussex, is to open a new campus on the second floor of the former Debenhams building in Robertson Street.
The specialist college provides vocational courses for 16 to 19 year olds interested in careers in the creative and digital industries.
This includes games development, music production and performance, and film, photography and creative media. It offers courses at Levels 2 and 3, broadly equivalent to GCSE and A Level study.
Stephen Jeffery, CEO, said: “Being in the centre of Hastings means we will be easily accessible to young people from the town and surrounding areas. Our aim is to complement the excellent education already available locally by offering something different.
“Some young people flourish in a smaller and more individualised learning environment, where they have the time and support to develop their confidence, talents and ambitions. That is what we want Hastings Creative College to provide.”
The college said it has a strong focus on inclusion and welcomes applications from young people with a wide range of educational experiences and needs. This includes young people who have been electively home educated, learners with additional learning or social needs, and those who have experienced mental health challenges or other barriers during their education.
The organisation can trace its roots back more than 20 years to a youth project in Shoreditch, which used DJing, mixing and music production to engage young people through their interest in music and the creative industries.
The project subsequently moved to Brighton in 2002 and became a formal education provider in 2013.
A second site opened in Bexhill in 2017, before DV8 became part of London Learning Consortium in 2020.
The college was rated Good by Ofsted in December 2023.
HCC said it will take up residence in the former Debenhams building starting in October, with the new Hastings campus expected to welcome students in the New Year.
The move from the existing Bexhill site is expected to be completed by Easter, the college said.
Visit https://www.dv8sussex.com/ or email: [email protected].