Care needed over sixth form's future

CULCHETH councillor Chris Vobe has urged Warrington Borough Council’s executive board to “consider carefully” before reaching a decision on the future of sixth form provision at Culcheth High School.
The board will meet on February 10 and is expected to decide whether or not the sixth form should close, following an extensive consultation exercise involving parents, teachers and pupils.
Governors at the school decided to go out to consultation because of falling numbers of pupils staying on in the sixth form.
Cllr Vobe (pictured) – a former student in the sixth form – said the council’s decision should take into consideration the implications of a decision to close.
He said: “I urge the executive board to consider carefully any decision they make.
“Closing the post-16 facilities will rob students throughout the villages of Culcheth, Glazebury and Croft of the opportunity to continue their local education locally.
“There will also be a knock-on effect on Culcheth High School itself. Without post-16 provision, teachers who are qualified to teach their subject at a higher level may start to look elsewhere.
“The executive board must proceed with caution and should not commit to anything which risks the educational opportunities of local students, or mortgages the future of children throughout the villages.”
Cllr Vobe said he would be attending the board’s meeting next month and would be encouraging others to attend as well.
He believes the council should initiate “rescue measures” to intervene and work to improve the intake at the sixth form with a carefully planned marketing strategy.
A number of factors are being blamed for the dwindling number of sixth form students at Culcheth, including the increasing popularity of Warrington’s Priestley College and the opening of a new sixth form at neighbouring Birchwood High School.