AN ACCRINGTON high school has moved one step closer to setting up a Sixth Form College... and bringing A-levels back to the borough.

The governors and staff of St Christopher's CE High School, Queens Road West, hope they will soon be able to turn their ambitions into reality.

Headteacher Alisdair Coates said: "The Government has stepped in with a new policy to encourage successful secondary schools to establish Sixth Forms where there is a local need, so we are moving forward to formal consultation soon.

"We will be consulting with other education providers across East Lancashire."

For the past few years there has been no comprehensive A-level provision in Hyndburn, meaning local pupils wanting to take the exams have to study outside the borough.

And according to a report published by the Learning and Skills Council, Hyndburn has the lowest number of pupils going on to study A-levels in Lancashire.

Mr Coates added: "This would be a great project, not just for our pupils but for any pupils who want to study after they are 16. It would help to make Hyndburn a more attractive place for people to move into.

"At the moment, people looking to live here are faced with the fact that Hyndburn has no provision for children who want to go on after 16 and study A-levels."