WORK has started on building two sixth form colleges after years of campaigning.

The £12.3m project will provide 16 to 19 "collaborative" centres in Normanby, on the site between Gillbrook Technology College and Eston Park, and at Nunthorpe School.

Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council has teamed up with construction company Carillion, which will be working to a strict timetable to get the centres open by September next year.

Councillor Ian Jeffrey, cabinet member for education, said: "This will obviously enhance opportunities at post 16 level in an area disadvantaged in terms of this type of provision following the closure of South Park Sixth Form College. It is also a very positive boost to the regeneration activities in this area."

The two centres will cater for students from three schools.

Gillbrook headteacher John Anthony said: "For students in the area, it heralds the provision of high-quality post-16 learning in a school setting. "They will be able to access courses on the doorstep, so encouraging far more to accept the challenge to continue learning and achieve the success associated with it."

Debbie Clinton, Nunthorpe School headteacher, said: "For too many years now the young people of these three schools have been denied the opportunity to choose a high-quality, 11 to 18 school-based option for their post-16 qualifications.

"At last, we can now provide our young people with the education so many of them want and deserve - and all of it on their doorsteps."

Eston Park headteacher Jim Rogers said: "The Sixth Form Centre will enable students of all abilities to access a range of courses in a caring and supportive environment.

"The types of courses on offer will not only reflect the needs of the students, but will address the skills shortages identified by local and national employers."

Martin Nunn, a divisional director at Carillion, said: "After successfully delivering the five Private Finance Initiative school projects for the council last year, we welcome the opportunity of constructing two further modern education centres."

Government funding for the project has been confirmed by the Learning and Skills Council's Capital Committee, which met in London, in May, to give its approval.