HUNDREDS of sixth form students are in line to benefit from a revolutionary collaboration between five of Kent's secondary schools, as well as Canterbury College and Kent Adult Education.

Canterbury Choices 16+ provides students with the opportunity to learn the subjects they want, even if their school or college lacks the staff or facilities to do so.

Students are provided with free transport to allow them to take lessons away from their “home” school as part of their normal weekly timetable.

For example, a student at St Anselm’s Catholic School wishing to take an AS-level in music technology can do so by having their lessons at neighbouring Simon Langton Girls’ Grammar School.

Equally, the involvement of Canterbury College and Barton Court Grammar School, have introduced students to a choice of vocational courses and the option of the ever-growing International Baccalaureate which is taught at Barton Court.

GCSE resits are also being offered by Kent Adult Education.

Launching an expansion of the schools’ partnership this week, co-ordinator Philip Wicker said the aims of the project were simple – “to see all the children post-16 in Canterbury as being equal, being entitled to study any subject they want and with any range of choices.”

He added: “There are 46 A-levels on offer, there’s the International Baccalaureate and there are at least 20 vocational courses at different levels as well.”

The project has been succesful in a number of other areas in the country, but Canterbury is the first place in Kent to launch it.

Partner institutions have been linking their courses together for the last four years, but the scale of the operation has now taken off. Students are being asked to make their choices this month to ensure their courses are guaranteed from September.

Former cabinet member for education at Kent County Council and member for Canterbury West Cllr John Simmonds believes it will create a better skilled workforce.

“I think the training these youngsters will be getting will be bang up to date and maybe industry needs to wake up to the quality of youngsters we’re producing and the skills they’ll have as a result,” he said.

The head teacher of one school involved in the partnership, Canterbury High’s Phil Karnavas, said it has been a success so far.

“It’s been remarkably smooth and pleasant in that the willingness of my fellow head teachers and providers to make it work, has made it work.

“We started this year with common afternoons and that’s being expanded on the timetables for next year to have common mornings as well.”

Two secondary schools, Simon Langton Boys and Archbishop’s, are not involved at this stage, but have apparently expressed an interest to join in the future.

Mr Wicker says the project is in a very healthy position.

“I think the momentum is firmly with this initiative and with the scale of the operation we currently have, the choice is going to be enormous for the children involved,” he added.