The academy has had plans to open a sixth form college for many years. Building work started in January 2015 and the building opened in September of the same year.[2][3]
Academic performance
The school performs well above the local authority average has held the best GCSE and AS/A level scores in South Tyneside. As of 2015, the school is listed as the second highest in Tyne and Wear[4]
At GCSE in 2010, the school came first in the local authority area, above the England average. The school repeated the success in 2014.[5]Ofsted has rated the school as outstanding
In 2016, 86% of pupils gained a grade C or above at GCSE level in English and Maths.[6]