Management of Newham Collegiate Sixth Form Centre is set to be transferred to a charity until the end of the current academic year.

The interim decision to hand over control to the Newham Foundation came as it emerged that there was a major blockage of the drains a fortnight ago as building waste had been disposed of in the drainage system.

This is the latest of issues to have dogged the East Ham sixth form which was found to have opened against legal advice.

Speaking at last night’s cabinet meeting. council chief executive Kim Bromley-Derry said he hoped to have “long term arrangements” for the centre confirmed by September.

The council is currently in talks with UCL and KPMG about partnering the college.

Three senior council officers resigned after they failed to raise issues when unauthorised improvements were made to the centre.