Truro and Penwith College has had plans for a new school for 16 to 19 year olds serving the north and east of Cornwall endorsed by the Department for Education.

The school at the college's Callywith campus will offer vocational courses to complement those pupils taking A-levels, and the college predicts that within five years of its opening over 1,200 Cornish students aged 16-19 could benefit annually.

The college has established a trust to oversee the new provision.

David Walrond, principal of Truro and Penwith College, said: “This decision supports the position of this college and its many stakeholders. There are large, poorly-served areas of Cornwall which need new post-16 opportunities to achieve better results for individual learners, and the much needed improved socio-economic prospects for their localities which these will deliver. "Today’s news from the Secretary of State is therefore a huge boost for Cornwall. It will transform young people’s life chances. This free school offer is a vote of confidence in the post-16 record of the college and in its future plans. We are determined to fulfil the high expectations of government and of young people and their families.

“Another important message in this is that working in partnership, Cornwall has the expertise and track record to attract investment to manage its own education and skills provision. The localism and devolution agendas are about demonstrating the capacity and confidence locally to develop education and skills provision which ranks with the very best nationally. This secures both the opportunity to develop our own education offer and the financial commitments to make it happen.”