Eton plans on levelling-up sixth forms by opening three satellite units in ‘cold spots’ targeted by Government
- The £44,000-a-year independent college has teamed up with Star Academies
- It wants to open the sixth forms in the Dudley, Middlesbrough and Oldham areas
- These are places identified as needing additional support by the Government
- The post-16 colleges will be modeled on selective sixth forms found in London
Eton College will open three selective sixth forms in education ‘cold spots’ identified by the Government’s Levelling Up paper, it has been announced.
The free schools will be opened in Dudley, Middlesbrough and Oldham, areas included in the list of 55 education ‘cold spots’ targeted for additional support by the Government’s levelling up agenda.
The post-16 colleges will be modelled on selective sixth forms in the capital such as the London Academy of Excellence in Newham, nicknamed the ‘Eton of the East End’.
High-achieving pupils at GCSE from poorer backgrounds will be encouraged to gain top A-level grades.
Eton College (pictured) has announced plans to open three selective sixth forms in Dudley, Middlesbrough and Oldham
The £44,000-a-year private school has partnered with Star Academies for the scheme, and will bid in the next wave of the Government’s free school programme, with the colleges expected to welcome their first pupils by 2025.
The colleges will form part of multi-academy trust Star Academies, with access to Eton’s teachers as well as extracurricular clubs and speaker events.
Eton will also assist pupils during the university application process, as well as with interview preparation, and they will be able to take part in summer residential programmes at Eton.
A statement from Eton and Star Academies said that the small size of the colleges ‘will allow them to target a very specific academic education and will ensure that they do not disrupt the existing pattern of local post-16 education’.
‘The admissions policies will be developed to specifically target young people who would most benefit,’ the statement said.
Each college will admit 240 students a year with Eton making a financial commitment ‘in perpetuity’ to fund the colleges.
Simon Henderson, head master at Eton College, said the private school is committed to ‘delivering outstanding educational opportunities to young people in these areas’
Star Academies chief executive Sir Hamid Patel said: ‘We are confident that our colleges will produce extraordinary, transformative outcomes.’
Simon Henderson, head master of Eton, said: ‘While our contexts may be different, our values are aligned and together we are committed, for the long term, to sharing our educational vision and delivering outstanding educational opportunities to young people in these areas.’
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