A Blackpool college is hoping for top marks for its new A-level academy. Blackpool and The Fylde College opened its new 'college within a college' based at the main campus at Bispham last week.

And staff hope the academy will push this year's 97 per cent A-level pass rate even higher.

College principal, Pauline Waterhouse, showed local education chiefs round the new academy on Thursday and a public open evening followed for prospective students.

The two floor academy, in the Thornton building at the Ashfield Road campus, is being promoted by the college as 'a mature environment providing the natural step between school and university'.

Although the college has been running A-level courses for many years, it will be the first time A-level students will have their own dedicated area -- created from refurbished rooms.

The young students will also have direct access to Bispham's new 'hub' building, which includes student services and shops.

As well as a range of more than 20 A-levels, including traditional subjects such as English literature and history, students will be able to choose from a range of 'packages', which include vocational study and experience. Packages include counselling, forensic science, teaching, journalism and marketing.

Students will get the chance to work alongside the college's own university level students, giving them an insight into higher education, and they will also work towards additional vocational qualifications, such as the BTEC National Certificate in Sport (Outdoor Activities), and a City and Guilds Diploma in Media Techniques.

The college is proud of its A-level success rate, and former A-level students have gone on to study for degrees all over the country, including Cambridge University.

A college spokesman said: "Students often find that continuing onto a degree course at the college after completing A-levels is a less daunting experience as they are already familiar with the college and many of the tutors.

"Blackpool and The Fylde College is the country's fifth largest college provider of university level education and offers more than 100 degrees and diplomas."

He added: "In fact, recent research suggests that students who study at further education colleges settle better at university as a result."