THE images here show what Blackburn’s first vocational sixth-form centre will look like.

Work has just begun on the £7million building at Our Lady and St John Catholic Arts College in North Road, which will welcome its first students from September 2009.

The project is being funded by the Learning and Skills Council after the Department for Children, Schools and Families, approached the school about opening a sixth form in recognition of its steady progress.

This year was the sixth consecutive year that GCSE results have improved, with a 14 per cent rise to 68 per cent of pupils getting five or more good GCSEs.

The sixth form will be purely vocational, offering practical qualifications in engineering, hospitality and catering, hair and beauty, media and business.

There will also be a flat where students can learn housekeeping and basic life skills.

Deputy headteacher Steve Fleming said: “We jumped at the chance to open a sixth form.

“It will be unique in what it offers, we did not want to copy anything that other sixth forms already offer in the area, so it will be niche vocational qualifications including level one and two NVQs and BTECs.”