Modified plans which will transform post-16 education in parts of East Sussex have been submitted to Government.

In August, ministers partially rejected £53million proposals by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) and East Sussex County Council.

The original plan included scrapping school sixth forms in Hastings and Rother in favour of a multi-site college.

But the proposal was stiffly resisted by two of the schools, the affiliated Helenswood and William Parker in Hastings and St Leonards.

They fought a strong campaign to retain their sixth forms, including a two-pronged protest at Downing Street and County Hall, Lewes.

Their pleas were answered when ministers offered a compromise in their long-awaited announcement.

It included keeping the Helenswood and William Parker sixth forms but supporting in principle plans to close sixth forms at Thomas Peacocke, Hillcrest, The Grove and Filsham Valley Schools in Hastings and Rye and replace them with one multi-site college. Ministers also agreed Hastings College should relocate to sites in Hastings town centre and rejected plans for a rural Rother college.

Today, the LSC unveiled its modified plans which will go to Minister of State for Schools and 14-19 Learning, Jacqui Smith. The new plans include £60 million investment in the development of Hastings College of Arts and Technology (HCAT) into a new college. It would include a full relocation to Hastings town centre on the Station Plaza site and in the Ore Valley.

The LSC said the revamped plans were designed to raise participation among young people in the area.

LSC regional director, Henry Ball, said: "The shared sense of deep disappointment in August has given way to a renewed optimism for the future of post-16 education and training in Hastings and Rother.

"The strength of our partnership with East Sussex County Council and HCAT has been instrumental in securing this exciting new way forward.

"When we were faced with redrafting those plans, it obviously caused considerable anxiety. Despite this challenge, we now have in principle support from our partners and I am confident the minister will recognise the strength of the modified proposals."

Keith Glazier, children and adult services councillor at the county council, said: "We've spent the past two months working very hard with schools, the LSC and other key partners to come up with a solution for Hastings and Rye that, in the main, we can all support.

"We made it clear we were unhappy with the Government's response to the initial proposals but, given the framework, we have worked constructively to come up with a workable solution.

"We now have a positive solution for Hastings and Rye that will offer parents and students a good mix of high-quality academic courses and vocational training.

"Parents will be able to pick one of the schools knowing their child will have a real choice of courses at 14 and a seamless transition at 16 through to 19 at the new partner college."