OLDHAM’S youth mayor has expressed her excitement after Eton College announced it will open a sixth form free school in the borough.

Tia Henderson, in a video posted on social media, said the investment would boost the aspirations of Oldham's young people.

She added the borough had "some of the most extremely talented young people who deserve every opportunity to excel in life".

As part of the government’s levelling up plans, three schools in education “cold spots” -  Oldham, Middlesborough and Dudley - will be opened by Eton College.

The post-16 colleges will be modelled on selective sixth forms in the capital such as the London Academy of Excellence.

High-achieving pupils at GCSE from poorer backgrounds will be encouraged to gain top A-level grades, enabling them to study at Oxbridge and other elite universities.

The £44,000-a-year private school has partnered with Star Academies for the scheme and will bid in the next wave of the government’s free school programme.

If successful the colleges are expected to welcome their first pupils by 2025.

The colleges will form part of multi-academy trust Star Academies, with access to Eton’s teachers as well as extracurricular clubs and speaker events.

The new post-16 college will help young people who have done well in their GCSEs achieve the A-Levels needed to go to Oxbridge and other elite unis.

Each college will admit 240 students a year with Eton making a financial commitment “in perpetuity” to fund the colleges.

The announcement has been warmly greeted in the town.

Tia believes the new facility will be a great boost for young people saying: “I’m one of many people who is extremely excited to welcome the news of Eton opening a sixth college here in Oldham.

“Oldham has some of the most extremely talented young people who deserve every opportunity to excel in life."

The youth mayor added: “This isn’t only a fantastic opportunity to invest in the future of Oldham’s young people, but it’s also really important in supporting the aspirations of Oldham’s young people.

“(It is) not just those that are in the education system now but those that are to come through the education system in the future.

“I am extremely excited for this to be up and running and I look forward to seeing the developments and where it goes next.”

A statement from Eton and Star Academies said that the small size of the colleges “will allow them to target a very specific academic education and will ensure that they do not disrupt the existing pattern of local post-16 education”.

“The admissions policies – designed in conjunction with University College London’s Centre for Education Policy and Equalising Opportunities – will be developed to specifically target young people who would most benefit on an ongoing basis,” the statement said.