THE decision to close Culcheth High School's sixth form college will go to the Office of the School's Adjudicator.

The council's scrutiny committee called on the executive board to re-evaluate its decision to approve the closure over the points of consideration of professional advice, clarity of aims and desired outcomes and consideration of options after Clr Chris Vobe (LAB - Culcheth, Croft and Glazebury) referred the original decision to close the college.

But Clr Hitesh Patel (LAB - Great Sankey South) told the board they could no longer make changes as the decision had now gone to the Office of the School's Adjudicator.

And the board said if there was an earlier warning of the sixth form's struggling with funding and attracting pupils the council might have been able to help.

Council leader Clr Terry O'Neill (LAB - Burtonwood and Winwick) added: "It's almost impossible for semi-rural sixth forms to exist today. 

"The sixth form has been struggling for years, maybe we should have had an early warning to get in there.

"All we can do now is note the committee's concern and let the adjudicator know. 

"if they decide to keep it open I hope there will be some funding with it."