Sixth forms to remain open
SCHOOL sixth forms in Bridgend are staying open after years with the threat of closure hanging over them. After a public consultation showed massive support for keeping sixth forms open, the council has agreed to do so.
SCHOOL sixth forms in Bridgend are staying open after years with the threat of closure hanging over them.
Bridgend council was looking at cutting the number of sixth forms and opening a “state of the art” sixth-form centre to increase the number of subjects available to students.
After a public consultation showed massive support for keeping sixth forms open, the council has agreed to do so.
But students will study through a mixture of online and face-to-face learning to increase the number of subjects available to them
The council reached the decision last week after more than 5,000 people, including pupils, parents and school staff took part in the consultation.
More than 85% wanted to retain secondary-school sixth forms.
A review of post-16 education in Bridgend began three years ago after a report found there were a limited number of subjects available.
Some school sixth forms were full, but others had empty places.
That left some students having to travel to different schools to study the options they wanted.
But parents and schools fought to save sixth forms.
More than 500 people signed an online petition to save Cynffig Comprehensive School’s sixth form.
The council will now continue to look at developing a new sixth-form centre at the Pencoed campus of Bridgend College in partnership with Pencoed Comprehensive.
It will also consider expanding provision at Coleg Cymunedol y Dderwen in Tondu.
Either of these will be in addition to keeping local sixth forms.
In a statement, Bridgend council said: “Secondary schools are to keep their sixth forms and will increase blended learning techniques to deliver academic improvement and educational opportunities.
“A strategy will be developed to support this which will draw upon the experiences of schools in providing lessons during the coronavirus pandemic as well as reflecting latest advice and guidance.
“The decision follows an extensive review and consultation which began in 2017.
“More than 5,000 people took part in the latest phase of the process and had their say on how post16 education should be delivered in future.”
Regional MS Suzy Davies has welcomed the decision to save sixth forms in Bridgend.
Welsh Conservative Mrs Davies, who is also the shadow education minister, said: “I am not surprised that so many (consultation) respondents supported sixth forms. Young people need to have a proper choice about where they study or train after completing their compulsory education.
“While the main consideration has to be the quality of the teaching, students also have to be able to get to the courses they want to follow.
“There’s no point in rejigging post-16 education in Bridgend if it is impossible for young people to access them because of a lack of transport links.
“Also, while video-based leaning has its place, it is no substitute for face-toface teaching. It must not be seen as a cheap solution. There is also the social aspect of pupils physically attending their school or college, which is an intrinsic part of their education about how the world works.”
Mrs Davies added that while she welcomed new ideas, new proposed “centres of excellence” must genuinely work alongside the sixth forms and not slowly take over from them.