Sixth forms could merge in post-16 learning shake-up
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A SHAKE-UP of post-16 education in Bridgend county is underway with the closure of all sixth forms, mergers and greater collaboration among some of the options being considered.
The review comes after a £460,000 drop in post16 funding for the local authority from the Welsh Government as a result of falling student numbers due to demographics, and the loss of grant funds to cover transport costs.
Financial pressure has also led to a “steady erosion” in the range of subjects offered with the loss of 10 subjects in the past few years and 16 potentially on the “endangered list”.
Presenting a report on the proposals at a Bridgend council cabinet meeting on Tuesday, April 24, post-16 officer John Fabes said: “It is generally recognised by the local authority, schools and Bridgend College that the current partnership arrangements are not fit for purpose.
“From a learner perspective, there are significant anomalies and equity issues across the borough.”
The council has drawn up a list of six concepts which will go out to public consultation between June and December. The six concepts under consideration are:
The retention of sixth forms in all schools – the “status quo”
The closure of all sixth forms and the development of a local authority maintained sixth form centre
The closure of all sixth forms and the development of a further education (FE) college governed sixth form centre
A mix of school sixth forms with some mergers to create new local authority maintained sixth form centre(s)
A mix of school sixth forms with some mergers to create new FE college governed sixth form centre(s)
A full tertiary model governed by the FE sector
The council’s preferred options are concepts four and five.
While capital funding bids for the development of sixth form centres can take years to finalise, the council is proposing a number of short to medium-term measures.
It aims to “significantly improve” the collaboration among existing sixth forms and Bridgend College with plans for integrated timetables and shared resources.
The proposals include all schools having a common timetable arrangement for their post-16 provision with lessons all starting and finishing at the same time, and a shared lunchtime.
A common sixth form option structure would be introduced with the 50-plus subjects available to all post-16 students and Bridgend College would be invited to offer a range of vocational courses in each of the option blocks.
A new student transport system would be set up to shuttle students between centres depending on what subjects they choose.
It is expected that the use of blending learning which includes a mix of online learning and traditional classroom methods will also be expanded.
Mr Fabes said the idea is that schools will jointly and strategically plan the post-16 offer.
The council aims to start work with schools this summer on the proposals to be ready for implementation in September 2019.
Recent schools reviews revealed with there was “significant support” for change. Further details on the consultation and process will come before the council’s cabinet next month.
The estimated increase in costs for student trans- port between schools is £100,000 with an overall cost estimated to be £165,000.
Mr Fabes said the costs would be offset by savings resulting from a reduction in teaching sets.