SHOCKED councillors and Warrington North MP Helen Jones have reacted quickly to the news that University Academy Warrington – the former Padgate High School – looks set to close its sixth form.
They say they are “very concerned” that a consultation has started on the proposed closure.
Poulton South councillor Colin Froggatt said: “Although this school is an academy and not under council control, all local councillors are keen to see the best possible provision in the area. We know the sixth form has had difficulty in recruiting sufficient students but we are concerned at the possible loss to the community and want to work with the school to see if anything can be done.”
It was only in January that education watchdog Ofsted labelled the academy as a school that required improvement.
MP Helen Jones (pictured) said: “Following the recent Ofsted report I met the head teacher and later spoke to the chief executive of the council about help and support for the school.
“I will now be asking what support is being given. It is vital that the local community has access to good quality education in the area and, in my view, that should include sixth form provision if at all possible.”
Poulton North councillor Graham Friend added: “I am very concerned that the lack of a sixth form in the area could effect the staying-on rates locally.
“We know that in some areas of the ward, we need to raise aspirations and encourage more of our young people to consider further and higher education. A sixth form in the area can help to do this and I am worried about the impact if it closes.”
Warrington-Worldwide reported on the closure moves on Wednesday and revealed the academy’s sixth form has only 23 students, compared to the generally accepted viable figure of 200.
In January, Ofsted said across Years 7-11, not enough pupils made more than the expected rate of progress in a range of subjects, including English and mathematics.
Standards fell last year and teaching required improvement. Expectations of what students were capable of were not high enough.
The sixth form was singled out as requiring improvement. Teaching was variable in quality and as a result, students did not make good progress other than in vocational subjects.
Ofsted stated: “Across the academy, there is not yet a strong enough focus and impact on developing students’ literacy and numeracy skills, including in the various curriculum subjects.
“Students’ behaviour and attitudes to learning are not always positive. Where work lacks challenge, students’ enthusiasm wanes and results in some low-level disruptive behaviour. Approaches to behaviour management in lessons are inconsistent. Not all staff have high expectations of how students should behave.”
However, Ofsted noted that the new leadership was impacting positively on the academy’s performance.
The executive principal, along with the new head of school, were taking a strong lead on improving the academy, which provided a safe and inclusive environment for its students.
