UK Government Approves Free Sixth-Form College Plans

Plans by world-renowned Eton College to open selective sixth-form centres in three English towns have been approved.

The private school has teamed up with Star Academies to create the colleges in Dudley, Middlesbrough and Oldham.

It hopes to offer transformative outcomes for young people in disadvantaged areas.

Eton, where many of the country’s prime ministers studied, will contribute about £1m per college annually on top of current funding levels.

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Each of the sixth-form colleges will admit 240 students a year, and have 480 students across Year 12 and Year 13 when full.

A spokesperson for Eton College and Star Academies said the aim was that most of its students would aspire to go to a top university and this will be reflected in the GCSE results they will need for admission.

The spokesperson said they will be called Eton Star Dudley, Eton Star Oldham and Eton Star Teesside.

They will be co-educational, unlike Eton, and the students will not wear the traditional Eton uniform of a black tailcoat.

The DfE has approved 15 new schools – including the three Eton Star sixth forms – in parts of the country where education outcomes are weakest.

A northern version of the Brit School in Bradford which has nurtured performers such as Adele and Amy Winehouse, is among the free school applications approved.

Plans have also been approved for two university technical colleges, one new all-through school for pupils aged four to 16, a primary school, two secondary schools and a further five 16-19 free schools.

Education Secretary Gillian Keegan said the ministry wants to make more good school places available to families and these 15 new free schools will bring brand new opportunities to young people from Bradford to Bristol.