Two Bath schools have launched a fundraising campaign to complete the second phase of their plan to build a new sixth form centre.
St Gregory's Catholic College and St Mark's CE School want to extend their offering to pupils over the age of 16 and have already secured £2.4 million from Bath and North East Somerset Council and £400,000 from the Government to pay for the first phase.
That part of the centre, based at the St Gregory's Combe Hay Lane site, is due to open next September and will include teaching areas, classrooms, laboratories and study space.
However, the schools need to find a further £1.5 million for The Gateway, which will house a 250-seat auditorium and The Well, a pastoral centre for Christian activities both in the school and the wider community.
Raymond Friel, who is executive head teacher of both schools, launched the Gateway Campaign at The Forum at the end of last week and appealed to the people of Bath to help with fundraising.
He said: "This is an exciting time for the city and will provide the most significant educational development in the area for many years.
"Having raised a significant amount of money already from the community of parents and governors, we are now looking for more substantial support from the local, national and indeed, international Christian community for this unique development."
Campaign director Ken Pearson added: "Pledges from parents have started coming in following the first function for them and further functions are planned for 2013. The pledge concept allows for a relatively small amount, £3.08 a week, to grow into a very generous gift of £1,000 over five years with the addition of Gift Aid."
For further information contact The Gateway Campaign Office at The New Sixth Administrative Centre, Combe Hay Lane, Odd Down, Bath or phone 01225 832873.
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