Post-16 education in Harrow has received a massive boost after two new sixth form blocks were given planning approval.

Canons High School in Edgware and Hatch End High School in Hatch End each won permission to build centres for the teaching of Alevels from Harrow Council's strategic planning committee on Wednesday last week.

Headteacher of Canons High School, Lynn Rowlands, said: "The planning permission is very good news. We're delighted that building work is due to start in July.

"It's going to offer an exciting and stimulating learning environment for our students."

Music rooms and an old science block are to be demolished to make way for the three-storey centre with seminar rooms, science labs, classrooms, a computing suite, a technology workshop and a media and editing suite.

Existing classrooms elsewhere in the school will be converted into replacement music rooms.

Hatch End High's new sixth form centre is going to be two storeys featuring eight classrooms, a computer suite, a careers room, a study room, offices, a dining room, while permission was also granted to extend the school's Great Hall with self-contained drama and music studios.

Both secondaries are part of the Harrow Collegiate, a network of schools, colleges and education providers established to expand the range of courses available to students locally and boost results.

In March 2007, the collegiate successfully bid for capital funding worth s25m from the Learning and Skills Council, the government body which bankrolls sixth forms.

This cash was allocated to individual collegiate members to improve their accommodation.