ENGLAND’S first state boarding school for girls could be built in Stourbridge under ambitious new plans unveiled this week.

Stourbridge’s Old Swinford Hospital – one of the few remaining state boarding schools for boys in the country – is applying to open a girls’ day and boarding school.

OSH’s proposal would see the new facility – which would be a day and boarding school open to any girls aged 11-16 – built on land owned by the school’s Foundation on Norton Road.

The proposed ‘Old Swinford Hospital for Girls’ would be a five form entry, non-selective school, aimed at pupils from all backgrounds across the Dudley borough.

An OSH statement said: “The aim of the girls’ school is to raise aspiration, progress and outcomes for girls from disadvantaged and other backgrounds in Dudley borough and beyond through replicating the strengths of OSH.

“The girls’ school would be closely supported by OSH and its curriculum would have a bias towards STEEM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering, Environment and Maths), as well as offering sport, dance, drama and music."

OSH headmaster Paul Kilbride added: “Dudley Local Authority has just last month been identified as a targeted local authority district by the Department for Education.

“The government is now calling for interested parties to take up the important challenge of improving outcomes for children and young people in these areas, and especially at Key Stage 4 (GCSE).

“We think we can meet that challenge and we are currently working with the New Schools Network, a government sponsored charity, to assess how our application can be successful.”

OSH – founded in 1667 by local MP and ironmaster Thomas Foley, who was born in what is now the Talbot Hotel in the town centre – recently celebrated its 350th anniversary.

The boarding school, on Heath Lane, is one of the highest-performing secondary schools in England for GCSE achievement and has this year re-introduced day pupils in Year 7.

Mr Kilbride added: “This is a really exciting initiative and one which we feel is very much in harmony with our values and ethos as well as the vision of Thomas Foley, our Founder.

“It is also a response to a call from the government to boost achievement in this area as well as from local employers and colleges of further and higher education in the West Midlands.

“We have a shortage of young people with qualifications in STEM related subjects at a time when we desperately need them.”

OSH has launched a consultation period on the project which runs until July 27 – visit www.oshsch.com for more details.