A NEW 1,000 space college will open in Keighley in 2026, although the hunt is still on for a town centre location.

This Summer, the Government approved a bid by the New Collaborative Learning Trust to open a sixth form college in the town, which will be known as New College Keighley.

The Trust says it is currently “reviewing a number of sites” in Keighley before it presses ahead with the new college plans.

It expects many of its pupils will be from North and West Bradford, as well as Keighley.

The Trust’s Bradford college, New College Bradford, opened in Bradford city centre in 2019 and was this year rated Outstanding by Ofsted.

Bradford Council’s Deputy Leader Councillor Imran Khan told a recent Executive meeting that he was “excited” about the plans for the new college.

Referring to the work being done to improve the Keighley area, he referred to the Trust coming to Keighley, saying: “It is really positive – they have a very good reputation for being an outstanding College.

“It is about offering good quality sixth form provision in that locality so kids aren’t having to travel across the District. Having a facility like this on their doorstep has to be welcomed.”

After the meeting the Telegraph & Argus asked the New Collaborative Learning Trust if there were any updates on the college.

A spokesman said: “New College Keighley will be an academic college for up to 1,000 students in the 16-19 age range, with plans to open in 2026 – for students currently in Year 9.

“Students will have the opportunity to study a very wide range of A level and A level equivalent courses, many of which are not currently available in Keighley, in specialist facilities in the town centre.

“It is expected that students are likely to join the sixth form college from Keighley and areas in the north and west of Bradford.”

Brendon Fletcher, leading the project on behalf of the Trust, said: “Like our three current sixth form colleges, New College Keighley will have a young adult culture underpinned by high academic standards, specialist post-16 teachers, significant enrichment opportunities and will deliver exceptional results.

“The sixth form college will play a key role in transforming educational provision and opportunities in the town.

“Sixth form colleges offer a distinctive experience to small school sixth forms and very large further education colleges. They are large enough to offer an exciting array of courses and opportunities, but small enough to feel like a community, for students to feel cared for, and for college leaders to closely check that students receive the very best quality of teaching.”

The Trust said leaders of the project and the Department for Education are currently reviewing a number of possible sites in the town centre, and finalising the site and working with architects to design the college will be the main focus of work this year.