School can set up sixth form

A sixth form with 200 places is to be created at a Telford school, 17 years after it was closed in an education review, it was revealed today.

The Abraham Darby Academy, in Madeley, this afternoon confirmed the Secretary of State had granted it permission to open the sixth form with 100 places for each school year next September.

Steve Hawke, school principal, said he was delighted by the decision as it formed a key part to the development of the academy, the new name for the old Abraham Darby School.

He added: "We will work closely with Adams' Grammar School, our partner in the Haberdashers' Adams' Federation to provide a range of Level 2 and Level 3 academic and vocational courses that suit the needs of our students.

"We will continue to work with Telford and Wrekin Local Authority and other providers in establishing the vision of Campus Telford."

The aim of the development is to improve the number of pupils staying in education after they are 16 as well as to maximise the local benefits of the Haberdashers' Adams Federation.

Some students will still go to New College and TCAT but Mr Hawke said: "We feel that we are offering something unique here."

Chairman of governors, Joff Hamilton, said: "The strong emphasis is on developing the 'whole person' and providing a wide range of extra curricular enrichment activity, already established in the Academy, into the Sixth Form."

The sixth form students will initially be taught in vacant accommodation in the school and then from September 2011 there will be new facilities.