AN 850-signature petition has been handed to Town Hall bosses in a bid to save Culcheth sixth form.

As reported in the Guardian, Warrington Borough Council’s executive board voted unanimously to remove the classes from Culcheth High School in February.

It was blamed on a slump in student numbers.

But a campaign has been launched to save the sixth form led by Warrington North MP Helen Jones and Culcheth councillors Matt Smith and Chris Vobe.

It has also been backed by borough councillors for Hollins Green and Rixton, seven members of Culcheth and Glazebury Parish Council, all members of Croft Parish Council, two members of Winwick Parish Council and nearly 850 residents.

The petition was handed to Kath O’Dwyer, borough council executive director for families and wellbeing.

Clr Vobe said: “It is inconceivable to us that a school like Culcheth High, which achieved the best GCSE results in the borough last year, has failed in such a dramatic fashion to attract those students to its sixth form.”

Clr Smith added: “We hope that the governing body will take note of the strength of concern and consider other options before pushing forward their closure plans.”