Eton College and Star Academies are planning to open three new state sixth-form colleges in Oldham, Middlesbrough and Dudley it was announced tonight.
Last year, the independent school signed a partnership agreement with the Star Academies chain, based in the North West, to open three selective sixth-form colleges in the state sector in the next five years.
It has now been announced that it plans to open the free schools in Oldham. Middlesbrough and Dudley. The three areas are included in the list of 55 education ‘cold spots’ targeted for additional support as part of the government’s levelling-up agenda.
The partners intend to bid in the next wave of the Department for Education’s free school programme, with a view to the colleges potentially opening by 2025.
The partnership said that political leaders in Dudley, Middlesbrough and Oldham were fully supportive - and are assisting the development of the proposals.
If these bids are successful, the new colleges will be part of Star Academies.
These co-educational state schools would include access to Eton’s teachers, its clubs and its speaker events.
Eton will also help students prepare for university applications and interviews and every year students will be invited to take part in a summer residential at Eton itself.
The curriculum will be based on the London Academy of Excellence.
All students will start by taking four A-level courses, with a proportion dropping down to three once they are established at the school. Each college is expected to admit 240 students per year.
The partnership said that the three towns in the North East, North West and West Midlands were selected following research into “where there was most need for a college that could stretch high-achieving young people in their sixth-form years”.
Star Academies chief executive Sir Hamid Patel CBE said: “This marks an exciting milestone in our partnership. By harnessing our combined wealth of educational and operational expertise, we are confident that our colleges will produce extraordinary, transformative outcomes, not only for their students but for the wider communities too.”
Head master of Eton, Simon Henderson, said: “We are delighted to be bidding to open these colleges in Dudley, Middlesbrough and Oldham. Our partnership with Star Academies is intended to ensure that the success of the project is greater than the sum of its parts.
“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.”
Councillor Arooj Shah, leader of Oldham Council, said: “For a young person growing up in Oldham, this is really exciting news, and comes after a lot of hard work behind the scenes with Eton, and with Star, to make this fantastic idea a reality.
“Eton and Star both have an outstanding reputation in providing the very best education - and that’s why I’m delighted that we can bring this incredible opportunity here to Oldham.”
Councillor Patrick Harley, leader of Dudley Council, said: “This is a hugely exciting step forward for Dudley which will give young people from our area a tremendous academic opportunity to benefit from an Eton-style curriculum and teaching approach to help give some of our brightest Black Country students an accelerator to the top universities such as Oxford and Cambridge.
“We fully welcome this inclusive opportunity which removes boundaries and allows our own young people the chance many could only dream of.”
Middlesbrough Mayor Andy Preston said: “Eton College in Middlesbrough. It’s incredible to win the support and backing of the world’s most famous school - a phenomenal result.
“Thank you to Eton College and Star Academies for putting your faith in Middlesbrough and offering us your skills and resources to help boost the life chances of local youngsters - and put our town on the map.”
