Call for stalled Eton plan to be scrapped

Stalled plans for an Eton college in Dudley have prompted calls from a leading councillor for the scheme to be scrapped.

Cllr Ryan Priest, leader of the council’s Liberal Democrats, dismissed proposals for an Eton Star Academy in the town centre as vanity which risks further education provision in the region.

Plans for the college, to provide A-level education for around 240 students, were first announced in 2022 when Dudley was one of three towns chosen to benefit from the-then Conservative government’s Free School Programme.

Dudley was set to provide land for the college in Stafford Street but the scheme was put on hold when Labour took over in Westminster and called for a spending review.

With no progress in sight Cllr Priest told the Local Democracy Reporting Service it is time for a rethink. Cllr Priest said: “The Dudley Eton project was always more vanity than it was sound investment.

“If Dudley is serious about investing in its young people it should be improving access to apprenticeships and vocational education. “At a time when we are facing an FE staff shortage, the last thing local colleges needed was an elite sixth form luring away staff.

“I hope this project is scrapped, and the money spent on raising the aspirations of all young people, not just a lucky few.”

While first predictions were the college would be open in 2025 and then 2027, Dudley’s education chiefs are still waiting for answers about when Eton will be in Dudley.

Councillor Wayne Little, Dudley cabinet Member for children’s services and education, said: “We are awaiting further updates from the Department of Education (DofE) following the freeze on funding for new schools under the Free School programme announced last October.

“All Free School projects, including the Eton College sixth form college in Dudley, are paused pending a decision by the DofE.

“The land is still allocated for the development, pending any decisions by the DofE and action by Eton College and Star Academies who are the proposers for the project.”

Oldham is another town waiting for an answer from ministers about an Eton Star Academy. Jim McMahon, MP for Oldham West, Chadderton and Royton, asked for an update from the Department for Education in parliament on Tuesday, October 22.

Josh MacAlister MP, a junior minister in the DofE, responded: “The department recognises the need for trusts, local authorities and Members of Parliament to have certainty about projects as soon as possible, and we will provide them with an update on next steps in due course.”