Doncaster town centre sixth-form super college to open this year

The DC6 sixth form – Doncaster Central Sixth Form – will see a joint operation between Hall Cross Academy, the new Doncaster University Technology College, and Doncaster College at the Waterfront.

But at present, there will be no new buildings as part of the project.

Simon Swain, principal at Hall Cross, said: “We are now receiving joint applications for students who want to study at the UTC, Hall Cross or the college.

“Students may end up doing something here and at the UTC – there will be a lot of movement between here and the UTC. For instance, you may get people doing photography at Hall Cross, and then a BTEC in digital media at the UTC.

“There will be some shared teaching at Key Stage Four and Key Stage Five. Some of our staff will teach there, perhaps in business studies, geography or maths – it is quite exciting."

Mr Swain and UTC principal Garath Rawson are working on a common time table between the Hall Cross and the UTC. Talks are also ongoing with Doncaster College to make sure anyone whose needs are not met at the UTC or Hall Cross can be catered for there.

“Between the three of us, every student who wants to stay on should be able to find something to do in the town centre. I think the UTC was the missing link in having this in place.”

Performing arts courses will use some the the Cast theatre facilities at Waterdale.

He said so far there had been over 550 applications to the joint scheme, and there was a positive feeling about the scheme among the leadership teams at the organisations involved in the project.

“I think one of the exciting things around this will be that it will help create a more vibrant educational town centre,” he added.

The DC6 sixth form is one of a number in the borough, including New College Doncaster at Auckley and facilities at several schools, some run as partnerships between more than one academy.