THE charity arm of Sunderland Football Club  - The Foundation of Light – has been given the go-ahead to open a new free school next to the Stadium of Light.

The new ‘alternative provision’ school aims to offer a brighter future to vulnerable young people who may be under-engaged in mainstream education.

Pupils aged between 13 and 16 will be referred to the centre from Sunderland, South Tyneside and County Durham.

Up to 80 pupils will be taught at the Sunderland Centre of Opportunity (SCOO), which will be championed by the Foundation of Light and SAFC and based at the new Beacon of Light building next to the stadium.

The goal of the school will be to successfully re-integrate young people back into their mainstream school with the necessary skills, attitudes and motivation to successfully continue their education - although some young people may continue with weekly contact if appropriate.

The school will use the inspirational brand of Sunderland Football Club and the Foundation of Light, allied to the power of sport, to help young people gain the skills and qualifications required to change their lives and enhance their employment opportunities.

The centre will open in September 2016 and will be an independent alternative provision school with a board of governors, enabling it to set its own curriculum, attract funding from the Government and will be subject to Ofsted inspection.

Lesley Spuhler, CEO of the Foundation, explained: “We firmly believe that our Centre of Opportunity will provide positive experiences for young people and the football club is fully on board and very supportive.

“It’s a natural progression from what we have offered in the past and follows the successful examples of similar free schools set up in partnership with Derby County and Everton FC.

“Our educational qualifications will be on a par with our mainstream peers, including the provision for five GCSEs, while our vocational qualifications will be suited to students’ capabilities and current business needs.

From 2017, the centre’s classrooms will be inside the £15m Beacon of Light.