Tetbury sixth form "deemed unviable" (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Tetbury sixth form "deemed unviable"

PARENTS and pupils at Sir William Romney's school in Tetbury have been left reeling after being told the sixth form will close next year.

Falling pupil numbers in recent years has meant post-16 facilities at the school have been deemed unviable.

Last September's intake will be the last pupils to sit A-levels at the school before the sixth form is closed for good next summer.

The closure was announced after an extraordinary board meeting of governors on Monday night where it was accepted the school has been unable to recruit sufficient numbers of students into the sixth form to make up subject group sizes necessary for teaching and learning at that level.

The move comes less than two years after the sixth form was saved from county council plans to close the facility.

A huge public protest backed by the Standard and Cotswold MP Geoffrey Clifton-Brown saved the day in 2004 but it appears this time round there will be no way out.

Headteacher Eric Dawson said: "This is a massive disappointment for the whole school, particularly after the efforts put into saving the sixth form from closure two years ago. However in coming to this decision we are placing the interests of all students above those of the perceived needs of the institution.

"Throughout the last two years we have been well supported by our community, but we now have to recognise the reality of the current position and adjust accordingly."

Governors believe pupil numbers have fallen due to a change in attitude among the town's youths.

They believe students are going to college in Stroud and Cirencester where there is a greater choice of subjects and social activities.

Mike Barnes, chairman of the governors, said the initial threat of closure in 2004 had also affected pupil intake.

He said: "That was a massive blow to us and we were at a loss as to why. The school is a better school than it ever has been. For three years running we have had record GCSE results. But kids want to spread their wings a bit further."

Mr Barnes explained post-16 funding is based on a fixed amount per pupil so the decrease in pupil numbers has caused budget pressures for Sir William Romney's because staff numbers cannot be reduced directly.

The small class numbers, with as little as two pupils in some subjects, are not sufficient to stimulate good teaching and learning at sixth form level.

Cotswold MP Geoffrey Clifton-Brown said the end of the sixth form was sad news for the school after the success of the 2004 campaign.

He said: "One has to face up to the fact that Stroud and Cirencester are offering a greater range of subjects and pupils are voting with their feet.

"What we must now concentrate on is making Sir William Romney's an excellent secondary school.

"We have to give them every help we can to make things better for them."

Stephen Hirst, mayor of Tetbury and school governor, agreed Sir William Romney's could no longer compete with larger sixth form colleges.

He said: "It makes me miserable because there was so much effort to save it and so much local feeling but the kids haven't wanted to go there.

"Maybe we should have put more effort into making it more attractive.

There was obviously a lack of confidence when the sixth form was faced with closure. People have looked around and decided not to go to Sir William Romney's because we can't offer the number of subjects.

"We offer more serious, traditional courses whereas Cirencester College offers glitzy courses which attract young people."

But Cllr Hirst said the school could now learn positive lessons from the experience with the sixth form.

He said: "It is a wake up call for Sir William Romney's and it can now get our educational offerings into order and make it special, particularly for performing arts, so people will come back.

"I would have voted against the closure because from a community point of view I don't agree with it. There may be children in Tetbury who will not go onto post-16 education now the sixth form is closing."