FORTH VALLEY COLLEGE is set to welcome students back later this month for the first time since March.

Five months after the college closed its doors due to Covid-19, its three campuses – Alloa, Stirling and Falkirk – will reopen in the coming weeks and officials have implemented a raft of precautions to ensure students and staff remain safe.

Further education students are set to return on August 31 with higher education classes to recommence from September 8.

Dr Ken Thomson, principal of Forth Valley College told the Advertiser about the changes as he claimed the college is ready.

"I've been waiting for this moment for five long months," he said. "First things first – Safety. For us to resume campus operations in Falkirk, Stirling and Alloa, we have followed Scottish Government guidance very closely to put in place several new measures.

"A general risk assessment for Covid-19 has been approved and supported by our unions.

"We have purchased additional cleaning equipment for each campus including disinfecting tunnels, ultra-violet light cleaning machines and introduced enhanced deep cleaning processes such as a fogging system taking place at each campus when it is empty."

There will also be a changes to rooms to ensure physical distancing can be in effect, while students will be required to clean everything they use.

Glass screens have also been purchased and installed at key contact point areas and a keep left system has been implemented to allow for an easy flow of students to and from their classrooms or workshops and highly visible new signage has been put up to help with this.

Dr Thomson recognised the challenges faced by many when working from home, but is confident the college did all it could to support pupils and staff alike.

He said: "We know that the challenges of remote work/study has undoubtedly caused issues. Many of our staff will have young families and have been home schooling, many may be caring for older relatives and some may live alone.

"We have been consciously helping them to maintain a healthy work-life balance throughout lockdown, which will be of benefit to everyone in the long run and we will always be there to help that continue as we push forward in the future.

"It has to be said that I am very proud of all my staff who have worked tirelessly, despite the challenges of lockdown, to ensure most of our students either completed their studies and gained the qualification they were hoping for, or were able to finish the current year and continue their studies with FVC."

He added: "Finally, on a personal note, it was an emotional day when we had to close our campuses, but the sadness I felt then has been replaced by pride, admiration, inspiration, optimism and determination that this experience will strengthen the college as a whole and help us to make learning work in our community in the years to come."