Daniel Currie, aged 17, who is in the lower sixth at St Aelred's said: "If Newton sixth formers come to our school the class sizes might go up, which isn't a good thing.

"I do chemistry lessons at Newton High so may have to have a different teacher. I don't know what's going to happen yet but they have told us our A-levels are secure."

Clare Panter, aged 22, of Willow Pantry, said: "My sister was going to go to the sixth form but now we don't know what she's going to do. They're on about them going to Carmel or Priestley or Padgate but they're all so far away. I just hope she gets into St Aelred's.

"I went to Padgate so had to pay my fare into Warrington and then catch a free bus to the college. I had to come home in the dark, which was a nightmare. There's nothing around here and I can't believe they're closing it."

But a wider subject choice does attract some pupils out of the area.

Jerry Cannon, aged 16, of Annette Avenue, said: "I went to Carmel because the facilities at Newton aren't very good and there weren't as many subject options there.

"There is a college bus to Carmel and if I miss it there are two buses to catch which is quite straightforward. I think going to college prepares you better for university."

St Aelred's won praise from grandmother Margaret Sudworth for its reassuring approach to the sixth form crisis.

The 75-year-old, of Beechwood Close, said: "The closure was a bolt out of the blue. I'm very shocked and hope my granddaughter won't lose out because of the changes.

"They've had a lovely letter from the head teacher of St Aelred's saying not to worry and that he'll do everything possible to help the Newton High School students."

Tom Kidman, aged 16, of St Aelred's, said: "We had a special assembly on the last day of term to tell us not to worry about the sixth form closing."

WORRIED students have started a petition to keep Newton High School's sixth form open.

The group was gathering signatures in Earlestown at the weekend in a scene reminiscent of the Save Our Sixth Form (SOS) campaign run by students 16 years ago, when the sixth form was also under threat.

Ann Cannon, aged 37, of Duncan Avenue, said: "I signed the petition because I feel sorry for all the students. Some of them are really cut up about the closure.

"I'm worried because one of my girls is due to go into the sixth form next year. If there's no space at St Aelred's she'll have to travel and that might put her off."

SOS campaigner Melanie Whitehead, aged 32, of Kingsway, who was at Newton High when the sixth form was last under threat said: "I think people who are destined to do A-levels will travel but for those who are unsure, having a sixth form at the school makes it easier to stay on.

"When I was at the school we made banners, badges and posters and had a lot of support from parents. We wanted it to stay open because we'd been through the school so knew the teachers and we didn't want to have to travel out of the area."

A meeting to inform parents of children at Newton High and St Aelred's about the changes will be held at the end of April or start of May, says St Helens Council.

BID TO SAVE

SIXTH FORM