'The sixth form must stay' (From Gazette Series)

'The sixth form must stay'

THE CAMPAIGN against the threatened closure of the sixth from at Vale of Berkeley College gathered pace at a public meeting last Thursday.

Well over 150 people packed into the school hall for the consultation with the Gloucestershire County Council representatives.

Cabinet member Cllr Charmian Sheppard (Lib Dem, Cheltenham St Peters) explained the meeting had been called to allow people to have their say about supporting the college.

She explained the council was looking to the public to suggest alternative courses of action to simply closing the sixth form or leaving it as it was.

The council's head of lifelong learning, David Grocott, then told the meeting how the council was reviewing the education system.

He said: "We have undertaken this review to see whether the current system is actually meeting the needs of students in the county. We have taken the needs of students as our starting point and have consulted head teachers and our partners in the learning and skills council."

Mr Grocott added that the council's Ofsted review of January, 2002, which stated that "sixth form provision in Gloucestershire is unplanned, uneconomical and ill fitted to need in some schools" had resulted in the current review.

Once the meeting was opened up to questions and views from the floor it quickly became obvious that everyone felt Vale of Berkeley sixth form should not be closed.

Teacher Eileen Bradley said: "At Vale of Berkeley we offer academic, vocational and work-based courses and we have far more community involvement than any other sixth form.

"You (the council representatives) talk about quality teaching - we do that here. You talk about giving guidance to the students - we do that here. You talk about concentrating on individuals - we do that here."

Some year seven pupils and several teachers highlighted how the loss of sixth-formers would result in a loss of important role models.

Many students, past and present, then paid tribute to the teachers at the college for their caring, friendly and supportive work.

One said: "I trust everyone here. I wouldn't have the confidence to go elsewhere. I've been getting better and better over the years and I want to keep improving. The sixth form has to stay."

Concerns about a lack of subject choice were quoted by teachers who said that some subjects were not being done at A-level simply because nobody wanted to do them.

Other concerns raised by the public about a sixth form closure included a fear technology college status could be lost, that year seven intake would be affected, that students would be too tired from travelling further to other sixth forms and that it was simply removing student choice.

Headteacher Michael Hardwick said that a way forward could be to work with other schools - but only on a level footing.

He said: "Collaboration must be on an equal basis. If we are to work with Rednock and KLB, then we must have provision for sixth form education."

Stroud MP David Drew added his weight to the cause, saying: "This is a very special school. It is a true community college. We have to look at the options we have for keeping it open."

Public consultation on the issue ends on January 16 and the council cabinet meets on February 4 when it could decide against closure or vote to begin the process that could eventually lead to closure.