DEMAND from students and parents will see A-Levels taught in classrooms at Kendal College for the first time ever from September.

Building on its 30 successful years of delivering degree level courses, qualifications including Accounting, Computing, Economics, English Literature, Maths, Biology, Chemistry, Law, Photography and Psychology will be offered.

Graham Wilkinson, Principal of Kendal College, said it marked 'an exciting step forward for the college'.

"It will open up much more choice for school leavers in the area," said Mr Wilkinson. "We are going to be able to provide a modern, alternative learning environment to A-Level study and our wide range of top quality courses will be taught by highly experienced teachers with valuable vocational experience."

It means that from next year students will have three places to choose from in Kendal - Kendal College, Queen Katherine School and Kirkbie Kendal School - when deciding if to enter further education after secondary school.

All are part of the South Lakes Federation - an organisation of 13 schools set up to improve standards across the region.

Its current chair is Phil Hyman, head teacher at KKS, who said: "The college is a member of the SLF and together we are constantly discussing how best to provide a range of high-quality courses at different levels to suit the full range of students."

Mr Wilkinson added that over the last two years parents had asked if their son or daughter could do A Levels in addition to their vocational course.

"This is something the college has seriously considered and, in light of the new curriculum in subjects such as specialist manufacturing and science, it is now an opportune time for the college to review its curriculum," he said.

He added the South Lakes Federation had been made aware of the situation.

"The college is meeting with the SLF on November 18 to discuss post 16-curriculum, for not only the college but for the entire federation, so that we can be assured together that we can provide a South Lakes curriculum that is completely fit for purpose for the future," he said.

For more information on Kendal College’s new A-Level courses visit www.kendal.ac.uk or call 01539 814700.