Poole-based technology company, Hugh Symons AV, has beaten international rivals to secure a prestigious contract to supply the new £11m Bournemouth and Poole College site at North Road with the most up-to-date audio visual teaching equipment.

Students will be starting the new college year with classrooms equipped with 30 state-of-the-art 84” Clevertouch Plus interactive screen. The company are market leaders for interactive teaching technology for colleges and universities.

The new extension, which also houses a purpose built 114 seat Performing Arts theatre, will rely heavily on the technology.

Interactive screens are changing the way we educate in today’s classrooms.

They help to give a new and improved lecture room experience for both students and teachers, and encourage connected learning and collaboration. For instance, teaching notes and instructions made on the Clevertouch Plus can be transferred electronically and instantly to the students’ laptops or tablets. This means students won’t need to hastily scribble down a formula or vital point while trying to understand a difficult concept.

One use of the technology will be in the new theatre. A 5m electric screen will give talented young dancers and actors the chance to watch their performances in real time on the screen while backstage - which means there will be no excuses for missing their cue.

Jo Kenny, Managing Director of Hugh Symons AV, said: “As a local company with many years expertise in audio visual technology for the education sector, we have had the real pleasure of supplying and supporting the college in the past.

“The new building is a real credit to The Bournemouth and Poole College and with our front-line teaching aids, backed by some outstanding technology, both the staff and the students can look forward to a superb learning experience.

“Our relationship with the college works well because we are based close by and can offer a quick and informal approach to troubleshooting. We can easily train staff about how they can get the most from the equipment.”

Ken Roberts, Executive Director of Resources at the college said: “This is leading edge technology and we believe it will dramatically enhance the teaching experience for our students.”