Multi-million-pound sixth-form to be brought forward by university

A multi-million-pound investment is being made by University College Birmingham into a new sixth-form centre.

The centre for A-level students will be based at Camden House at the University’s existing campus and is set to open in September 2024. Students will have the option to mix subject areas with vocational options such as Maths, English, Sciences and Sport and Health and Social Care within a university environment.

The University has already invested £160m into its campuses since 2014, with developments such as Moss House, a £46m scheme on Holland Street in Birmingham city centre facilities for nursing and social work, physiotherapy and sport and fitness.

University College Birmingham launched a new partnership earlier this year, which means that many of its degree courses are now awarded by the University of Warwick. In September, the University saw its first cohort of Engineering and Construction students begin their studies, with further construction courses starting next year.

Students attending the new sixth form centre will have access to University facilities, including admissions and careers advisors who can support their applications to university and employment.

Professor Michael Harkin, Vice-Chancellor and Principal, said: “University College Birmingham’s sixth form centre will offer young people fresh choices and expand routes into higher tiers of education and training. As we face a looming recession, it’s never been more important to support our future workforce.

“The centre will serve as a hub for generations of future workers, helping students prepare for life at university whilst having access to a world-class standard of facilities”.

Professor Stuart Croft, Vice-Chancellor and President at the University of Warwick, said: “The University of Warwick is proud to support University College Birmingham in this initiative to improve educational opportunity and social mobility for young people in Birmingham, and to develop new career pathways to meet the needs of the city’s community and businesses.

“A new sixth form provision complements the work our two universities are undertaking in partnership to open access to world-class higher education in the West Midlands, address regional skills needs through new pathways in STEM education and support young entrepreneurs through our Creative Futures Incubator”.