Sixth form centre to be open by 2012 (From Halesowen News)

Sixth form centre to be open by 2012

4:03pm Thursday 2nd July 2009

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AN Oldbury school is set for a new sixth form centre as part of £18 million expansion plans.

The newbuilding at Perryfields High School will be used to house the sixth form, which is opening at the Oldacre Road school in September.

Funding will come from the Government’s Building Schools for the Future Programme, with building work beginning as early as September 2010.

The project is expected to be completed by Sepetember 2012, with final approval expected shortly.

Headteacher Dai Meredith said the new sixth form centre was long overdue.

He said: “The parents have been asking for a sixth form for a long time – 52 years the school has been going and it finally has one at last.

“It has certainly been a key objective since I have been at the school.

“We will have a custom-built sixth form centre in four years’ time.”

Between 60 and 70 students are expected to start at the sixth form in September, with the number potentially rising to 180 in the next few years.

The school has also submitted an application to transform the current caretaker’s residence into a temporary sixth form centre when the current caretaker retires in July.

Rooms in the house will be turned in to group classrooms, while a conservatory will also be built as part of £70,000 renovations.

Mr Meredith said: “The building is situated at the school’s entrance and will become available shortly.

“It seemed a good opportunity to use it as an interim step as it will have small classrooms and some quiet areas.”

Sandwell Council leader Bill Thomas said the authority was supportive of the plans for the sixth form.

He said: “Perryfields is one of Sandwell’s most successful schools and we are very keen to see this scheme progress.”

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