The mayor of Ely enjoyed a tour of an innovative new learning hub that has opened its doors at Ely College.

Councillr Lis Every met students and staff at the Nisai Learning Hub, enjoying tea, cake and a tour of the facilities, which include an online learning suite, quiet meeting rooms, small learning spaces, a social area and kitchen, as well as garden spaces outside.

The centre is run by Nisai Learning, which provides personalised lessons and courses for children who, for physical, emotional or learning-related reasons, find it difficult to adapt to their school’s mainstream curriculum.

The students’ curriculum combines online learning in core GCSE subjects like English, maths and science, with vocational studies at a range of sites around Cambridgeshire.

The eight current students are drawn from Ely College, but the Hub has been developed to cater for students from all of East Cambridgeshire’s secondary schools.

Ben Gibbs, chair of governors at Ely College said: “It is vital that schools in the area are able to provide appropriate opportunities for all their students to learn in a way that suits their individual needs, and the new Nisai Learning Hub offers just that, but with bells on.

“I’d go so far as to say that mainstream schools could learn a lot from the richness of each Nisai students’ curriculum, and from the very careful blending of online and face-to-face teaching. That said, I’m pleased that there was nothing virtual about the fantastic cake we were made on the day.”