A NEW sixth form will open in Worcester next year after the Government gave the thumbs up to a school’s expansion plans.
Christopher Whitehead Language College will be able to provide further education for students looking to gain A Level qualifications from September 2015.
A total of 240 extra pupils are expected to eventually join the school on Bromwich Road, which currently has about 1,120 children on its books.
Headteacher Neil Morris said he was absolutely delighted to get the go-ahead from the Department for Education as he believed the sixth form centre would benefit the whole of Worcester.
“I think this is massively good news for Worcester, including Worcester Sixth Form College, which might view it as competition,” he said.
“But it is a long way away, so for people in Hallow or Dines Green to have another option is possibly a more desirable opportunity for them.
“Also for a school like ours this is a great opportunity for us. To call ourselves an 11-18 school is something any headteacher would aspire to say and I am sure it will improve all our years.”
Mr Morris said the new students would be based at the school’s hall in the science block where some of the subjects would be taught, while the centre’s doors would not open until 9.45am in a bid to alleviate traffic problems.
“We are fortunate as we have two halls, so we have created a mezzanine floor, which means they will be totally separate to the rest of the school,” he said.
“That will be their centre where they will have a common room and some of the lessons will be taught there.
“We have also set up a steering group of students who are taking part in the designing of the centre, so they are telling us what they want. which is important and very exciting.”
