A SCHOOL could soon achieve its long-held ambition of building a sixth form centre.

Nunthorpe School, controlled by Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, has had its achievements recognised by the Government.

Many of its pupils come from neighbouring Middlesbrough Borough Council, as Nunthorpe straddles both areas.

For the past five years, staff and governors have talked of building a sixth form centre at the school.

Now, Redcar and Cleveland council is being asked to work with the Tees Valley Learning and Skills Council to carry out a consultation exercise to see how feasible the plans are.

In 1997, a governors' proposal to establish a sixth form was turned down because it was considered there was enough provision in the area.

Since then, South Park Sixth Form College, Normanby, has merged with Prior Pursglove College, Guisborough. The Normanby campus closed last year.

This means an increasing number of youngsters in the Nunthorpe area are travelling to Middlesbrough, Stockton and North Yorkshire for post-16 education.

Middlesbrough has plans to build a city academy, at Coulby Newham, which will include post-16 opportunities.

Redcar and Cleveland council is concerned that this could affect the number of children educated outside of the borough and said it could soon be the only authority in the region unable to offer 11 to 18 school provision.

If the executive approves the consultation, the authority will consult with parents, pupils, staff, governors and other parties before reporting back to the council.

Councillors will discuss the plans at a meeting on Tuesday.

Headteacher John Rowling said he could not discuss the situation until after the executive meeting.

The school's grades have improved each year since 1996. In 2000/2001, 74.4 per cent of year 11 students gained five or more A* to C grades in their GCSEs.