A NEW college or sixth-form centre could be built to boost an area's low number of youngsters staying in education.

Officials are looking at various ideas to encourage east Durham teenagers to continue with their studies after 16.

East Durham's staying-on rate is 52.5 per cent, which compares with less than 60 per cent for the county as a whole and the national average of 61 per cent.

The area has two Education Action Zones, centred on Peterlee, and Seaham and Easington, which have helped create the fastest rate of improvement in the county for assessment and GCSE results.

The six secondary school headteachers and the action zone directors have formed a partnership, the Easington District Partnership College of Excellence, to pursue the idea of a college providing high-quality education up to the age of 19.

The area has one school with a sixth-form, St Bede's RC in Peterlee, and the town also boasts East Durham and Houghall Community College.

But many pupils choose to study at sixth-form centres or colleges in Durham, Sunderland or Hartlepool.

The partnership aims to develop an institution that would complement provision.

Durham County Council is supporting the idea, which would probably be funded by the Learning and Skills Council.

Phil Barclay, the county council's head of education resources, said: "It could be school-based, college-based or free standing.

"We are going to be asking pupils what they want because some go to college or sixth-form centres outside the area.

"This could be a fairly big investment and it needs to be fairly well thought out.