College stops Year 12 intake due to low sign ups

A college in Devon will not be starting a new Year 12 sixth form group from September.

Okehampton College said it was unable to offer "the wide range of subjects that students deserve" due to not having enough pupils sign up to join - meaning only four out of 18 subjects would have been "sustainable" to teach.

Principal Gareth Smith said the trustees had been speaking about "the future" of post-16 education since June and not being able to start a new Year 12 had not been "an easy decision".

In letters to parents, carers and students he said the sixth form had "always been a special part of our school".

"Some of my best teaching memories are with sixth form students - they bring energy, maturity and inspiration to our community," he said.

Smith said it was "not just a local issue" and that sixth forms across the country were "finding it harder to offer the breadth of subjects students want".

He said this was due to the government's plans for new pathways including V Levels and "more technical options and clearer routes" into higher education, apprenticeships and skilled jobs.

"These changes aim to give students more choice and flexibility, but they also highlight why smaller sixth forms are struggling to keep up."

The principal said its priority was "to make sure every student finds the right next step" including information and open evenings alongside teams from Tavistock College Sixth Form, Queen Elizabeth's School Sixth Form and Exeter College.

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