End of the road for popular college (From Gazette Series)

End of the road for popular college

STAFF, parents and pupils at The Vale of Berkeley College have had their hopes of the sixth form staying open dashed.

The final stage in the process of closing the sixth form facility was completed by Gloucestershire County Council last week, after the schools organisation committee agreed with their recommendation to close the sixth form.

The committee is an independent body that makes key decisions about changes to schools and comprises representatives from the education authority, the Church of England, the Roman Catholic Church, the Learning and Skills Council and school governors.

The recommendation had been made following the council's education review last autumn despite strong opposition from staff, pupils and the community.

In December, well over 150 people attended a public consultation to have their say. But by May closure moved a step closer when staff and pupils arrived to find formal notices put up outside the school.

Headteacher Michael Hardwick has always maintained that the school had a full part to play in the south of Gloucestershire post-16 provision of education.

He said: "This summer I retire from The Vale of Berkeley College after almost 28 years there. During that time we have always had a sixth form and the quality of the students and their successes has been a great source of pride to me.

"I am saddened at the decision to close the sixth form, a decision I wholeheartedly disagree with, and I firmly believe that it is a great loss to the community.

"However, The Vale of Berkeley is a fantastic school with much to offer, whether that be 11-18 or 11-16 and I am confident that the school is poised to go from strength to strength."

Jo Davidson, director of education, said: "We are pleased that the school organisation committee has agreed with our proposals. We can now continue the process of focussing our efforts on improving the scope and quality of

post-16 education in the Cheltenham and Stroud areas. Vale of Berkeley College and Kingsmead will continue to be closely involved in this development work.

"Our plans have been vindicated as being in the best interests of young people and I hope that we can work with the schools and other local

education providers to raise standards and increase learning and work-based

opportunities."

The last intake of students into the sixth forms will be in September, 2005.