School to lose sixth form provision

St Cuthbert's R.C Business & Enterprise College

The Governing Body of St Cuthbert’s RC Business and Enterprise College have decided that the sixth form at the school will close.

The removal of the sixth form is part of a bid to ensure the financial and educational feasibility of the college and comes following falling student numbers.

The sixth form has gradually lost its yearly intake of students, and if the school continued to be funded, it would result in a significant financial short-fall between income and the necessary expenditure that would be gained in providing students with a broad and balanced curriculum.

Head teacher, Dr Chris Meehan, said: “The decision to close the Sixth Form at St Cuthbert’s has been one of the most difficult decisions the Governing Body has had to make.

“The Governors have listened to the students, parents, staff and the school’s community, who have put their views across clearly and with passion.

“Taking account of those views and arguments, whilst having regard to the wider long term interests of all pupils, the Governors have reluctantly decided to close the Sixth Form in 2012”.

In the Sixth Form, there are 58 students in year 12 and 51 students in year 13, having an overall population of 109.

The sixth form recruitment in schools has fallen over the last few years, with many students preferring to access provision out of Borough, in Oldham or Bury.

The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) recently undertook a strategic review of Rochdale’s sixth form options and triggered a competition for new provision.

This has resulted in the establishment of a new sixth form college in the centre of Rochdale. With more people attracted to the more modern college, St. Cuthbert’s RC has had a dramatic downfall of student’s attending their Sixth Form.

The proposal documents reads: “The evidence in Rochdale is clear: at post16, students are increasingly choosing to attend a college rather than a school-based provision. Numbers in all school sixth forms have reduced over the last few years and continue to do so, and the opening of the new Rochdale Sixth Form College is further evidence of this.

“Current students will be able to complete their study programmes. All future sixth form pupils will be able to be accommodated in Roman Catholic sixth form provision in Middleton or Buru, or in the new Rochdale Sixth Form College.”

The Governing Body consulted with parents of children who attend St. Cuthbert’s RC, pupils and students of the school, parents of Roman Catholic feeder primary schools, all of the staff, the Diocese of Salford, the local MPs and elected members, the Young People’s Learning Agency, the Local Authority, Rochdale Borough Secondary Schools and Locale FR providers, All neighbouring Local Authorities and secretaries of recognised Trade Unions/ Professional Associations.

The decision to close the sixth form was made following a six-week consultation period.
There will now be a further six-week period of consultation. The council will consider the proposal within two months and make a final decision.

Any person can make representations on the proposals by sending them in writing, by Tuesday 1 March 2011, to:

Chris Swift
School Organisation and Development Team Leader
Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council
Schools Service
PO Box 70
Muncipal Offices
Smith Street
Rochdale
OL16 1YD