Second school to lose its sixth form

A SECOND Warrington school looks set to close its sixth form because dwindling numbers of students are making it financially unviable.
University Academy Warrington – formerly Lysander High School and Padgate High School – is consulting with parents on a proposal to cease recruiting new sixth form students this September, with a view to closing the sixth form in August next year when the current Year 12 students complete their studies.
At present, University Academy sixth form has only 23 students and it has never had more than 72 since it was established in January, 2013. It currently offers only three vocational subjects, GCSE English and maths re-sits.
The average six form college has around 1,700 students and school sixth form has more than 200.
Department for Education chiefs recognise that sixth forms with less than 200 students are at risk of being financially unviable.
A statement issued by head teacher Neil Harrison and chairman of the school’s State of Action Committee (SOAC) Andy Wilson says: “Given these numbers, we have regretfully come to the conclusion that we are unable to provide the breadth of courses, including a widened range of vocational and A Level subjects, that sixth form students need.
“Also, a small sixth form does not provide as broad a social experience, nor is it as easy to prepare students for the wider environment of higher education or the work place. Most of our students in Year 11 choose to go elsewhere for post-16 provision.”
The statement stresses that the change will allow resources to b3e focused on improving the learning experiences and outcomes for years 7 to 11 in the main academy.
“Our aim is to become an outstanding 11-16 academy and to do so we believe that we must concentrate our energies and expertise on that age range.”
The school points that there are a wide range of post-16 education providers in the area, including Priestley College, Warrington Collegiate, Birchwood High School, Winstanley College and St Helens College
The SOAC proposal is supported by the University of Chester Academies Trust (UCAT), of which University Academy Warrington is a member.
Late in 2013, governors at Culcheth High School decided to consult on a proposal to close the school’s sixth form. No new students were admitted last year and the sixth form will close in August this year.
In August 2012, the former Woolston High School closed completely because it was decided there were insufficient pupils for both it and Padgate High – now University College Warrington – to be viable.