STUDENTS will be able to study for A-Levels again in the heart of the Forest, after Dene Magna School was given the go ahead to launch a new sixth form centre.

The Mitcheldean school has been awarded the right to teach A-Level subjects at the new Gloucestershire College Cinderford campus from September 2019, following years of preparation work.

Stephen Brady, headteacher of the ‘outstanding’ Ofsted-rated school, said staff and pupils were “over the moon” with the announcement of the pioneering link between the school and college, which will see Dene Magna operate a sixth form for the first time in its 88-year history.

The green light from the Department for Education will come as a big boost to students and parents who were left facing a journey to Gloucester, Hartpury, Sedbury, Newent, Monmouth or Ross-on-Wye to study, after the college stopped providing A-Levels this summer when it closed its Five Acres campus.

Mr Brady said: “This is a landmark day for the central Forest of Dean and we are over the moon to be able to announce this.

“It has taken many years to get to this point, but during our consultation process, it was clear that the people of the central Forest of Dean wanted to access an excellent A-Level provision to complement the excellent vocational offer that is already available in their area.

“The new sixth form centre operated by Dene Magna will complete that picture and prove to be an accessible, high-quality choice for the large number of students who find it difficult to get to other providers.”

Dene Magna and Gloucestershire College will be working in partnership to deliver “a range of high quality further education courses to the young people of the Forest of Dean,” he added.

A-Level lessons will be taught by Dene Magna staff in classrooms which were included in the new campus building in the hope of the new sixth form being approved, and each year will have up to 100 places available.

Gloucestershire College Principal, Matthew Burgess, said: “We are really pleased with the news that Dene Magna has been approved to offer A-Levels at the new campus.

“This is an important element of provision to help raise attainment and aspirations in the Forest of Dean and we look forward to continuing to work with them on the next stages of this journey.”

A statement by the school said the two organisations already have a track record of working together, and will aim to run distinctive courses serving the needs of all students in the central Forest.

“The new campus, which officially opened in September, provides a bespoke, modern environment for students to learn in and students are already expressing their excitement at being able to join in September 2019,” it added.

Dene Magna will be gearing up for the launch of the new centre by hosting a sixth form information evening for parents and pupils tomorrow night (Thursday, December 13) in the school main hall from 6pm to 7pm.

That will be followed by a sixth form open evening on Tuesday, January 29, at the college campus.

Further information is available at www.denemagna.gloucs.sch.uk