Sixth form decision to come eight weeks before new term (From Warrington Guardian)

Sixth form decision to come eight weeks before new term

THE fate of Newton High's sixth form will be decided by an independent committee next month after St Helens Council's Executive agreed proposals for it to be axed.

A meeting of the council executive agreed plans for closure, but the ultimate decision will rest with the School Organisation Committee, a panel made up of representatives from education establishments, the church and councillors, who will meet next month.

This means a critical decision will only take place eight weeks before the start of a new term. If closure is ratified, current lower sixth students will have to join other colleges to continue their studies. Newton currently operates as a shared sixth form with St Aelred's High School, also in Newton-le-Willows. Under the plans however, the St Aelreds sixth form will remain in place.

St Helens Council proposed the axing after the school was placed under special measures following a highly critical Ofsted report.

The 66-pupil sixth form received less criticism, but the council backs closure because it feels teachers will be able to concentrate solely on improving education of pupils, aged 11 to 16, in the high school.

St Helens Council reasons for proposing closure also cited the fact that only 29 per cent of pupils stayed on at Newton sixth form, compared to 51 per cent at Rainford High.

During a consultation period before recommending closure, the council claims "only one email had and one letter" objecting to the plans. Only 11 out of 2,000 consultation papers about closure were returned, along with a petition, though the council gave no indication of how many signatures it contained.

Opposition, however, has come from teaching union the NUT, who called for plans to close the sixth form to be axed. A St Helens union representative said: "It is the wrong decision for the school and hope the organisation committee will reconsider."

Susan Richardson, director of education and leisure for St Helens Council said she understood "many parents and students wanted the sixth form to remain open, but added that the LEA and the Learning and Skills Council believe it is in the best interests of Newton pupils for the closure to go ahead."

If the SOC approves closure, the council says pupils will be given wide-ranging advice and support over any future moves into alternative sixth form provision.

A council statement added: "Extensive advice and guidance has been provided for year 11 students and current year 12 students (lower sixth) in order to help them think through the implications of potential closure."