BOURNEMOUTH’S Bishop of Winchester Academy has entered a new era with the opening of its sixth form.

The 60 new students were welcomed to the Mallard Road school by new head of sixth form Nicola Cross and vice-principal Paul Holman.

Staff and students are already celebrating the school’s best-ever GCSE results and were thrilled to be embarking on new academic and vocational studies.

Planning of the sixth form has been continuous during the major £14.5m construction program which has transformed the site into a state-of-the-art education facility.

Mr Holman and Ms Cross introduced the students, many of whom have joined from other schools in the area, to the new sixth form centre on their first day. “This is the missing piece of the jigsaw for The Bishop of Winchester Academy’s students’ onward progression to university. It is what parents have been asking for” said Mr Holman. “It has been our long-term vision to provide quality Key Stage 5 education to our students.”

Ms Cross added that with the new facilities and a dedicated team of teaching staff, the students will have every opportunity for onward progression to university or be best prepared for the workplace when they leave.

The new sixth form has its own purpose-built exclusive space with a quiet area for private studies and a communal area complete with an internet café.

Much of the design and content was decided after consultation with academy students who knew last term that they would be looking forward to additional years at the Academy.

It offers 20 level three subjects.