BOHUNT Sixth Form’s open evening attracted more than 800 visitors – a mixture of prospective students and parents who, for the first time, were able to walk across the bridge and see inside the new building.

In his opening speech, headteacher Neil Strowger, who is also chief executive of the Bohunt Education Trust, reminded everyone the sixth form had been part of the school’s masterplan since the 1990s, when Education Minister David Blunkett refused to grant it permission.

He referred to Bohunt’s DNA of excellence in teaching, innovation in learning and its guiding principles of enjoyment, respect and achievement and promised the new sixth-form college would not “settle for the status quo”.

Mr Strowger said: “We offer inspirational opportunities for those who relish intellectual challenge, with support from our expert staff, who know students best, and the chance to learn in depth through our dynamic and exceptional teaching.

“Those that study with us will be nurtured as they make the transition into independent learners and well-rounded young people.

“Bohunt students leave us to take their place in society as knowledgeable and principled individuals confident and ready to realise their ambitions.”

The new head of sixth form Clare Hodgson said: “The enrichment programme offers a whole array of opportunities, including yoga, a debating society, bushcraft and guest speakers to stimulate and develop our students outside the classroom as well as a ‘leaving home’ course, which is mandatory.

“We teach students about tenants’ rights when they go to university – finances, washing, cooking and other essential survival skills and we already have seven trips booked in for those students who join us in the autumn term.

“More than 300 students from Bohunt and TPS [Petersfield] have put their names forward for our sixth-form taster days and feedback has been extremely positive from both students and parents.

“Most impressive were the small class sizes, the enrichment opportunities as well as the state-of-the-art building and hi-tech class rooms.

“By far the most popular courses are maths and biology, but students have also shown interest in psychology, art and photography.

“We offer a total of 26 bespoke courses and will be running 23 of them in September with two highly experienced A-Level teachers for each course.

“With a brand new college we have a real opportunity to provide a bespoke curriculum to meet the specific aspirations and needs of our students.

“Underpinning achievements – our aim is to create the joyfulness in learning and students should choose subjects they are good in and love doing. Study time can be flexible and some will be seminar university style.

“Bohunt is about personalised learning and we also offer EPQ - extended project qualifications up until January to complete independent research projects, flexibility, live streaming of lectures and workshops, as well as specialist Oxbridge preparation and specific support for medical and veterinary applications.

“There will be work experience opportunities, trips to universities, mock interviews and links with armed forces.

“The lower and upper six students will be mixing - we think it is an important relationship for both and students can access a tutor every day, since they will all be on site during the week.”

Able to accommodate a total of 500 students at 250 across the two year groups, Mrs Hodgson is keen to stress applications are still being accepted for the current and the following year.

The sixth form’s bespoke curriculum will be made up of three different programmes, providing students with the opportunity to study further qualifications in addition to A-levels, creating an undergraduate feel and preparing students for university life.

The first programme includes the choice of three of the 26 A-level subjects on offer, as well as enrichment opportunities.

The second programme provides students with the opportunity to study three A-level subjects, a level three EPQ and enrichment.

The third option offers students the chance to study for three A-level subjects, alongside one AS level, as well as the EPQ and enrichment.

Bohunt claims the ability to choose an option of three programmes ensures students’ studies will suit their abilities and aspirations.

The “enrichment programme” offers a range of opportunities, challenges and activities over the two years such as undertaking the Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award, gold sports leadership, dramatic review club, mentoring work experience, a senior debating society, trips and excursions, team building experiences, a philosophy club, a guest speaker programme and an active social life with events planned throughout the year.

The new college building, which displays Bohunt’s signature colours of magenta blue, green and gold, is arranged over three stories and includes a cafe with hot drinks, vending machines and snacks and hot food throughout the day.

It will also serve as a venue for student exhibitions, a place to relax and for working in a more relaxed setting.

In addition there are computer science and business studies rooms, four seminar rooms, four specialist state-of-the-art science laboratories, a music suite and recording studio, a large well-equipped library, dance, drama and presentation rooms, art and photography facilities as well as lecture rooms, all with views across the Bohunt sports fields.

Charging points are located on every floor, wireless access and streaming facilities are provided and doors will remain open for students and staff from 8am untli 4.30pm.

The building can only be accessed by sixth form students and teaching staff, who have to carry photo ID with them at all times.

Sixth-form students are being offered travel on existing bus services which cover a wide area from Petersfield to Haslemere, Greatham to Grayshott and Hindhead – with many stops in between.

As part of Bohunt’s travel plan, students are encouraged to walk or cycle and participate in an environmentally friendly “park and stride” programme, starting and completing their journey to the college away from the centre of the village.

Train services from the surrounding areas on the Portsmouth to London line are outlined with four trains an hour available during peak times.

Bohunt Sixth Form is due to open on September 4 and another open evening is planned for October 4.