School sixth form removal approved

Saint Cuthbert High School

Councillors have approved the closure of the sixth form provision at St Cuthbert’s R.C Business and Enterprise College.
 
The school’s governing body put forward the proposal to ensure that the financial and educational viability of the school is maintained.
 
The decision to approve the closure was taken at a Cabinet meeting held tonight (Monday 21 March 2011).
 
The report presented to Councillors, reads: “The Governing Body points out that with the establishment of Rochdale Sixth Form College, and the availability of similar opportunities with other providers, there has been a significant reduction in post-16 numbers in the school.
 
“The governors also point to changes in the arrangements for post-16 funding and commissioning which mean that the school could not afford to maintain the lower level of sixth form numbers and provide post-16 students with a broad and balanced curriculum.”
 
The closure of the sixth form will take part in stages.
 
There will be no new Year 12 intake this September but existing students will be able to complete their programmes of study.
 
The report states that all future sixth form pupils will be able to be accommodated in Roman Catholic sixth form provision in Middleton and Bury, or in the new Rochdale Sixth Form College, or with other post-16 providers in the area.