An Ely sixth form whose "future once hung by a thread with fewer than 70 students" is set for a £5 million expansion and refurbishment which will increase the total intake to 400 places and provide new classroom space for students and staff. 

Bishop Laney Sixth Form, which is part of Ely College and run by The Meridian Trust, currently accepts 150 students per year group, but this funding - announced by The Department for Education - will allow the school to create a further 50 places per year group.

The money from the Government’s £140 million ‘Post-16 Capacity Fund’ will also enable an upgrade of ‘Needhams Tower’, which will then become the new home of Bishop Laney Sixth Form.

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In a tweet, executive principal Richard Spencer said: "In 2016, the future of sixth form at Ely College was hanging by a thread, with fewer than 70 students.

"To be able to increase our capacity at Bishop Laney to 400 students and secure capital investment for new accommodation (securing the future of Needhams Tower) is wonderful news."

In a statement, he added: "The accompanying investment will significantly improve our facilities and spaces at Ely College, as well as provide us with the capacity to offer more students access to an excellent sixth form experience locally.

"We will be sharing details of the plans in due course and are very grateful for all the support we have received in this application.”

The application, submitted by Ely College and Meridian Trust in November 2022 and supported by local MP Lucy Frazer, noted the anticipated rise in demand for school places in East Cambridgeshire.

She said: “The new funding will enable 100 more pupils every year to learn important skills that will set them up for the world of work.

"It also prepares our area for the anticipated increase in demand for student places.”

The planning process is underway, with works anticipated to run from early 2024, with a target for completion of early 2025. More details will follow in the coming months, but the college have shared an initial concept design.

The renovated tower will be ‘net zero’ energy consumption and fully accessible with lift access.

The college also aims to re-lay the car park area and provide additional spaces.

Simon Warburton, principal of Ely College and Bishop Laney Sixth Form, said: “A lot of hard work has gone into this project, and I’d like to thank everyone who has contributed to getting us to this point.”