TEENAGERS in Colchester and Tendring will be able to study for their A-levels at Essex University's campus, thanks to a new schools partnership.

More than 150 students from six schools attended introductory talks and taster sessions at the Colchester campus as part of the new VI6 Partnership, which is thought to be the first scheme of its kind in the UK.

Philip Morant, Thurstable, Harwich and Dovercourt, Colne, and Clacton County High schools, and the Clacton Coastal Academy will be working together to run the courses which will be hosted at the university's Colchester Campus.

Colne Community School and College executive principal Nardeep Sharma said: “We are really excited about this project which allows our students to learn in new ways, experience higher education from a different perspective and develop a love of life-long learning.

“This is a unique project and no other area of the country has developed a project like this. I can only see it going from strength to strength.”

The partnership will offer a variety of A-levels, including law, further maths, geography, history of art and philosophy.

Courses will be taught jointly by school staff and will extend the sixth form availability to students.

Academics will also contribute towards the courses.

Professor Jules Pretty, the university’s deputy vice-chancellor, said: “This is the start of a groundbreaking initiative.

“We are giving the young people of North Essex the chance to be part of something really special – a new and exciting way of learning informed by our commitment to excellence in education.

“Students will become part of our university community. They will have the chance to learn and work like a university student and benefit from our facilities.

“We hope theywill also be inspired by our ethos of challenging convention.”