The Philip Mourant Centre in Trinity is Highlands College’s satellite centre used specifically for Adult Education. The PMC as it is affectionately known began life as the College’s horticultural and agricultural training centre. The site had been gifted to the Education Department in memory of Philip Mourant for the training of young men in horticulture and agriculture. The facilities on the 1½ acre site were far from ideal for an educational establishment and in 1988 the States approved a grant of £437,000 for a purpose-built centre within the grounds. Sadly, by the time the PMC opened, the demand for training in horticulture and agriculture was in sharp decline.

In 1999 the decision was made to close the door on horticulture and agriculture training. Rather than leave the Centre empty, the Principal, Dr Edward Sallis, moved the College’s Adult Education programme to the site with a view to increasing lifelong opportunities for Islanders. Over the next few years the programme grew significantly and was able to offer daytime and evening leisure courses at a venue that worked extremely well for adults.

Today the Centre boasts six classrooms, an art studio, a ceramics studio and two workshop spaces for practical courses such as upholstery, stained glass and jewellery making. Classes operate in the day and evening during the week and occasionally at weekends. On average 550 students use the Centre each term.