HUNDREDS of potential students went to check out their new home next to a school in Witham.

The Sixth Form of New Rickstones Academy and Maltings Academy has moved into its own accommodation.

This is instead of classes being split between the two sites.

Sixth Formers now have almost all of their lessons at a dedicated building next to New Rickstones, in Conrad Road.

Only specialist subjects such as photography, music, art and science are still taught in the main school buildings.

More than 300 people visited the site on the new Sixth Form’s open day.

Debbie Kershaw, director of sixth form, said: “It makes sense to have everyone in one place now.

"Maltings is oversubscribed and so there isn’t the space there to accommodate Sixth Form lessons any more.

“This move gives students an opportunity to take ownership of their own space, it feels more grown-up for them and we are able to treat them slightly different away from the younger students.

"Here, they can be young adults which is what they should be."

Mrs Kershaw herself was a Maltings student and taught PE, she held the position of head of upper school at New Rickstones over an 11-year stint.

She said: “It is really exciting to have our own space.

"We are trying to make everything uniform and for young people outside of Witham to see it's an option for them, too.

"We are also working hard on retention- we want students to join our group of schools for seven years, not just five.”

The Sixth Form has ten classrooms which can be adapted as the number of students grow.