Parents' dismay as sixth form due to close

Students hoping to attend a sixth form in north Norfolk have been told it will not be running new A-level courses from September.

The Synergy Multi Academy Trust (SMAT) said the decision to shut Sheringham Sixth Form to new pupils was being made with "great disappointment" due to a take-up of only 50 pupils.

Those part-way through their courses would be able to complete them, it said.

A parent of a girl due to start in September said the news had a "massive impact" at a time of GCSE revision, with many now facing long journeys to other sites.

In a statement, SMAT said like many sixth forms pupil numbers at Sheringham were going down.

"The projected number of students joining Year 12 in September is approximately fifty," it said.

"The Department for Education guidance states that a sixth form needs at least one hundred students per year group to be financially viable and offer an appropriate breadth of courses.

"We have, therefore, had to make the difficult decision to remodel the sixth form provision between Reepham College and Sheringham Sixth Form."

While all A-level options will end at Sheringham, vocational subjects like motor vehicle studies and health and social care will continue, subject to pupil numbers.

Consultations into staffing have begun across the schools run by SMAT.

Norfolk County Council has previously warned that falling birth rates could mean that schools in the county close.

Rumours about the closure circulated online before parents and children were informed of the news on Thursday.

Rhiannon Van Der Zanden's daughter, Alexis, was planning to go to Sheringham Sixth Form in September when she finishes at the high school, which is on the same site.

Now she faces a 17-mile (27km) journey to study at Reepham College, rather than a five-minute walk.

Her mother said: "This is far from ideal and a huge change for my daughter.

"She is not used to travelling, does not know Reepham, and does not know anyone who attends Reepham College."

Natasha Watts said her daughter had also been planning to go to her local sixth form.

She said it should not have been offering places if it was unclear whether it could operate.

"It is certainly disappointing, for a child who struggles already to make decisions, and a child who struggles to make friends, struggles with changes," she said.

"This has had a massive impact and is not what is needed whilst they're trying to revise for their GCSEs."

The Liberal Democrat MP for North Norfolk, Steff Aquerone, said: "I'm very concerned by proposals that would see A-level provision end at Sheringham Sixth Form.

"I am meeting with the CEO of the Synergy Trust early next week to speak about it, and press for student and impacted families' voices to be heard."

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