Thousands of disadvantaged kids to be supported by top Eton College teachers in £3m plan to raise school standards

DISADVANTAGED kids will be supported by top teachers from Eton College under new plans to raise school standards across England.

Around 12,000 youngsters will benefit from 15 new free schools, announced by ministers today.

PA

Eton College and academy trust Star Academies will set up three state sixth forms in Dudley, Middlesbrough and Oldham[/caption]

Three of them, located in Dudley, Teeside and Oldham, will operate as sixth form colleges partly funded by Eton and Star Academies.

The private school will provide hard-up kids with access to extracurricular activities and support from top staff.

It will contribute £1m per college on top of current funding levels.

The selective sixth forms will take on 240 students every year and total 480 pupils when full.

Unlike Eton they’ll be mixed gender and won’t require wearing traditional tailcoats.

Students will be encouraged to aspire to Britain’s best universities, particularly Oxford and Cambridge.

Eton Head Master Simon Henderson said: “We are delighted by this decision. We believe these new colleges have the potential to be transformative both for the young people who attend and for the wider communities they will serve.

“Now the hard work really starts as we turn our vision into reality.”

Education Secretary Gillian Keegan said: “We want to make more good school places available to families, and these 15 new free schools will bring brand new opportunities to young people from Bradford to Bristol.

“Free schools bring high standards, more choice for parents and strong links to industry – and all in the areas where those opportunities are needed most.”