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Queen Alexandra Sixth Form to Enhance Opportunities for Young People in the Borough

Young people across North Tyneside are set to receive a new boost in the provision of education across the Borough as John Spence Community High School, Marden High School, Norham Community Technology College and Tyne Metropolitan College announce a unique new partnership to create Queen Alexandra Sixth Form College.

The three schools, which currently do not have a school-based sixth form, and Tyne Metropolitan College, have formed a partnership to ensure Queen Alexandra Sixth Form College will provide hundreds of young people in South East area of North Tyneside with a dedicated route through GCSEs and A levels from the ages of 14 to 19.

All partner schools will work directly with Queen Alexandra Sixth Form to ensure teaching and curriculum plans from GCSE through to A level will be delivered in conjunction with each institution, in pursuit of a long-term goal to increase the number of students currently moving into Higher Education and training.

Commenting on the new opportunities for students at Norham Community Technology College, Principal Linda Halbert said: “Queen Alexandra Sixth Form College will offer huge benefits to our learners. All students will enjoy greater curriculum choice and the independence of attending a Sixth Form College whilst also having the support, relationships with staff, curriculum opportunities and liaison with parents offered by a school sixth form.”

The new Sixth Form College will be open its doors in September 2010 at what is the current Tyne Metropolitan Sixth Form campus in North Shields. Queen Alexandra Sixth Form College presents a brand-new opportunity for each partner school to play a direct role in governing and managing their own Sixth Form College to improve the learning experience and outcomes for their students beyond GCSE level.

David Stainthorpe, Head Teacher at Marden High School said: “At the heart of the partnership lies the shared goal to provide students with the cultural and social links back to their home school whilst providing a focused academic environment with like-minded people where they can prepare themselves for the demands of university or working life.”

Jim Stephenson, Head Teacher of John Spence Community High School added, “We believe that, by working closely with the partner schools and Tyne Metropolitan College, we will be able to ensure our students make a smooth transition into college life and that they will receive the kind of support and high quality teaching which they will need in order to learn effectively and to grow as individuals. “

Queen Alexandra Sixth Form College will build on the excellent A level pass rates achieved at TyneMet Sixth Form in 2009 through a continued focus on quality teaching across A level subjects. A dedicated team of well-qualified, experienced subject specialists will teach students, with staff from John Spence, Marden and Norham continuing to teach students in select A Level subjects for added continuity.

Jon Vincent, Principal of Tyne Metropolitan College said, “Not only will students from our partner schools be assured of a smooth transition from GCSE into their own Sixth Form College, but they will also be able to choose from a wide range of A level subjects and an extensive enrichment programme. The new Sixth Form College will be in pole position to offer students an experience which retains some of the familiarities of school while providing a stepping stone to university study or working life.

Queen Alexandra Sixth Form College is now enrolling for courses due to begin in September 2010. For information on course options and details of how Queen Alexandra Sixth Form College could be your passport to success, please visit www.queenalex.co.uk.