Eton to open state schools in Dudley, Middlesbrough and Oldham to help students get into Oxbridge

Eton College will open three selective sixth form free schools in education ‘cold spots’ identified by the Levelling Up paper (PA)
PA Archive
Daniel Keane11 March 2022

Eton College will open state sixth-forms in two towns in the north of England and one in the Midlands to help students to get into Oxbridge and other top universities.

The 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.

It comes as part of a partnership with Star Academies, who will model the colleges on selective sixth forms in the capital such as the London Academy of Excellence.

High-achieving pupils at GCSE from poorer backgrounds will be encouraged to gain top A-level grades, enabling them to study at Oxbridge and other elite universities.

Eton will bid in the next wave of the Government’s free school programme, with the colleges expected to welcome their first pupils by 2025.

All of the schools will have access to Eton’s teachers as well as extracurricular clubs and speaker events.

Pupils will also receive assistance during the university application process and with interview preparation. They can also take part in summer residential programmes at Eton.

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 – designed in conjunction with University College London’s Centre for Education Policy and Equalising Opportunities – will be developed to specifically target young people who would most benefit on an ongoing basis,” they said.

Each college will admit 240 students a year and Eton will make a financial commitment “in perpetuity” to fund the schools.

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.”

Councillor Patrick Harley, leader of Dudley Council, said the news was an “exciting step forward” for the area which would give the “brightest Black Country students an accelerator to the top universities such as Oxford and Cambridge”.

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.”

Councillor Arooj Shah, Leader of Oldham Council, said: “My first and foremost responsibility is to fight for Oldham and draw in support and investment from every corner. I’ll work across political and ideological divides to make that happen.”

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