AS principal of one of only four specialist sixth form colleges in the North-East, Tim Fisher can’t understand why there aren’t more of them.

Tim, who joined the staff at the Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College in Darlington as assistant principal in 2002 and became principal in 2007, points to national statistics which show that sixth form colleges out-perform school sixth forms and further education colleges in a number of key areas.

Apart from helping a higher percentage of students to progress to higher education and to the most selective universities, Tim points out that sixth form colleges also deliver more ‘bang for bucks’ than rival models.

“The average cost of each exam point in a school with a sixth form is £7.95 and even higher for an academy sixth form but a each exam point in a sixth form college only costs the taxpaper £5.86.”

“It is a fabulous model for education for several reasons,” he adds.

Tim, 46, soon makes it clear that he thinks he has got one of the best jobs in Darlington.

“It’s wonderful, an absolute privilege and pleasure. We have the most tremendous students who are talented in ways I can only dream of as well as a cracking set of colleagues,” says Tim, who is married and has two boys, one 11, the other 13, enrolled in Darlington schools.

Originally from Manchester , where he acquired a life-long passion for Manchester City Football Club, his family moved to St Helen’s on Merseyside, where he also developed a liking for the local rugby league club.

Tim read English at Leicester University before working in London for a few years - “to get it out of my system” – and trained to be a teacher at Nottingham University, where he also completed a masters degree in language and linguistics.

He got his first teaching job at a college in Nottingham, spent some time at a college in Cambridge and then moved to QE in Darlington seven years ago.

Tim feels passionately that sixth form colleges are the ideal place for 16 to 18 years old to study.

Certainly, the fact that nearly 2,000 teenagers opt to study at QE suggests that may be true.

“What students in that age group need is an experience that will prepare them for the level of independent that you need to have developed in order to cope with the challenges of university, starting a job and living away from home. We build that independence, along with great results.”

Five minutes with Tim Fisher, principal of QE Sixth Form College...

Favourite North-East building and why?

Dunstanburgh Castle. It’s remote stunning, ancient and reminds me that nothing lasts forever.

What was your first job and how much did you get paid?

When I was at school I worked as a builder’s labourer. I can’t remember how much I was paid, in fact, I can’t remember being paid at all.

What is the worst job you’ve had?

Barman. Great when the pub had some customers, terrible when it was empty.

What would you cook for me if I came around for dinner?

It would have to be a curry

What would your superpower be?

The ability to withstand all government initiatives.

Name four people, dead or alive, who would be at your perfect dinner party.

Barack Obama, Jane Austen, Isambard Kingdom Brunel, Robert Falcon Scott.

Most expensive thing you’ve bought – other than car or house – and how much?

I recently bought a very expensive cooker. It makes great curries!

Who is the best person to follow on Twitter and why?

Peter Barron – you might have heard of him!

Favourite book?

Gullivers Travels

When did you last cry?

When I found out how much the cooker cost.

What is your greatest achievement?

Being a decent dad.

What’s the best piece of advice in education you’ve ever been given?

Just do what you think is right.

Favourite animal and why.

Dogs, specifically my dog for his irrepressible enthusiasm.

Most famous person on your mobile phone.

I’ve just had a look at my contact list and I’ve never heard of any of them.

What was the last band you saw live?

At QE I’m lucky enough to see live student bands almost every week. I don’t always know what they’re called, but some are seriously talented.

Describe your perfect night in.

Ideally I’d have a curry with a great novelist, a Victorian engineer, an Antarctic explorer and the President of the United States of America.

Who would play you in a film of your life?

I’d leave that to the casting Director

What irritates you?

Long emails with attachments

What’s your secret talent?

I can play the trumpet worse than anybody else I’ve ever heard

In another life I’d be . . .

A better trumpet player