BROCKENHURST College is planning a £3.75m package of building improvements after celebrating its best ever year in 2004.

The sixth form college in the heart of the New Forest was named as one of the top ten in the country following a superb report by Ofsted inspectors in August.

Students broke all previous records when they achieved outstanding A level exam results with a pass rate of 97.2 per cent.

The year was topped off when Brockenhurst was awarded Beacon College status - the highest accolade available in post-16 education.

College chiefs have now submitted a planning application to add a first floor extension on top of their existing technology block.

If approved, the proposals will provide students studying media studies, photography and information technology with state-of-the-art equipment and facilities.

Brian Bowker, deputy principal and director of corporate services, told the Daily Echo: "The excellent inspection report has created a lot of interest in the college from students across a really wide catchment area.

"We want to improve the existing facilities that we have got for students.

"As technology moves on it soon becomes outdated particularly in areas like photography, media studies and IT.

"Any IT related subjects are in high demand and we also get good results in these areas."

At present the one-storey block is home to the college's training restaurant and the information technology, graphic design and electronics departments.

Work on the new extension will start in May this year with a projected completion date of September 2006, if the scheme gets the go-ahead.

Mr Bowker added: "It's an exciting time for the college. People are generally in an upbeat mood and our open evenings are being very well-attended."

A second phase of planned redevelopment will include refurbishment of the college's main block and work on the main entrance.

The improvements will be funded by the Learning and Skills Council and the college itself.

Brockenhurst College enrols about 2,300 sixth-formers from Hampshire, Dorset and Wiltshire on a wide-ranging programme of academic and vocational qualifications including the International Baccalaureate.