Eton College and Star Academies have welcomed the Department for Education’s decision to approve their plans to open a new free sixth form college in Dudley.

Eton Star Dudley will recruit dynamic young people from deprived communities in the town and surrounding areas and provide them with a rigorous and rounded education, and support them to achieve places at the very best universities. 

Students who attend will benefit from an education based on the best that is on offer at Eton and the best of Star Academies, which is, by many metrics, the highest-performing state school trust in the country. Eton’s Head Master Simon Henderson said:

“We are delighted by this decision. We believe Eton Star Dudley has the potential to be transformative both for the young people who attend and for the wider communities it will serve. Now the hard work really starts as we turn our vision into reality. 

“Collaborative partnership will be key to this project’s success and we are very grateful for the support we have had already from Dudley Council, from the local communities and from our colleagues in other educational settings.”  

Councillor Patrick Harley, Leader of Dudley Council, added: “We are delighted with the news and this is a significant step forward to bringing Eton to Dudley. 

“Eton and Star epitomise the very best standards in learning and they very much share our vision of a nationally renowned education facility in the borough.

”We will continue to hold positive discussions with Eton and Star to pave the way for this to happen.”