Work on a new multi-million pound sixth form centre in Bury St Edmunds will begin early next year, it has been announced.

The educational centre, which has been named Abbeygate Sixth Form College, is expected to open its doors to 700 students in September 2019.

The name of the centre was determined by a public survey and through consultation with pupils from King Edward VI School, Newmarket Academy, Stour Valley Community School and Sybil Andrews Academy.

Abbeygate Sixth Form College will offer around 40 A-levels as well as a number of enrichment and extra-curricular activities.

The college will be situated near King Edward VI School opposite the county and borough council offices and West Suffolk College.

It will be run by the Suffolk Academies Trust – a collaboration between West Suffolk College and Suffolk One – as well as the Samuel Ward Academies Trust and King Edward VI School.

Jenny Rodgers, project manager for the new sixth form, said: “Thank you to everybody who took part in the consultation, it was a fantastic community exercise which resulted in a name befitting our brand new sixth form college.

Abbeygate Sixth Form College was favoured for being a traditional name with a clear link to Bury St Edmunds.

“The Abbey Gate in the centre of Bury St Edmunds is a 14th century gatehouse and is one of the best surviving examples of its kind.

“It was designed to be the gateway for the Great Courtyard and thus for us symbolised the gateway to success and achievement our new sixth form will offer the young people of this community.”

She added that a design competition for the sixth form’s new brand and logo, being sponsored by Ipswich-based design agency Trebuchet will be launched later this year.

Speaking last year, Nikos Savvas, chief executive of the Suffolk Academies Trust, said: “We want to ensure that all 16-18 year old academic students in this area benefit from world class A-level teaching.

“We will replicate here in west Suffolk the very successful model that One delivers in the east of the county, building on the expertise of King Edward VI School and working in close partnership with other schools.”