A NEW sixth-form is set to open at a Rayleigh school next September after a Government minister backed the plan.

The Sweyne Park School will offer A-level and vocational courses to 140 students when the sixth form welcomes its first students.

The sixth-form, approved by schools minister Lord Nash, will initially be based in revamped existing buildings and include a bistro area, library and dedicated study facility.

Headteacher Andy Hodgkinson said: “The news that we are going to be able to open a sixth form next year is fantastic for the community.

“Since we made our plans public,Ihave been overwhelmed by the level of support and would like to thank all the pupils and parents and other community members for their help.

“At Sweyne Park, we are 100 per cent committed to raising the aspirations of all pupils. The sixth-form will provide the ideal opportunity to build upon our school’s strengths and we very much believe the rest of the school will also benefit from this.”

Detailed planning for the sixth-form has been under way since last year and 99.4 per cent of people who responded to a consultation backed the bid.

The sixth-form will be predominantly A-level based, with a small number of vocational qualifications also being made available.

New subjects will be taught at A-level, and successful GCSE subjects at the school, such as Mandarin, will be taken to the next level.

Sally Pemberton, deputy head, said: “I have had the real pleasure of working with focus groups of pupils, parents and staff in crafting our vision and formulating our plans.

“I am excited that we will now have the opportunity to appoint more exceptional teachers and a head of the new sixth form in the very near future to join our already excellent staff.”

Rayleigh and Wickford Tory MP Mark Francois was also pleased to see the next stage of the school’s development.

He said: “This is great news for both Sweyne Park and Rayleigh as a whole. As the local MP, I have supported Sweyne Park’s applications both to become an academy and to establish a sixth-form, so I am doubly delighted to see this approved and I would like to congratulate Mr Hodgkinson and all the governors, staff, parents and pupils who have helped to make this new achievement possible.”