'A' level pupils locked out mid-term as Academy takes over

[TonyGosling]

ANGER AS SIXTH FORM IS CLOSED
Bristol Evening Post - 05Mar08 - Linda Tanner

Parents and students have been shocked by the sudden closure of a school sixth form half way through the academic year.

Teenagers at Hengrove Community Arts College and Post-16 Centre were told last month that they would have to switch to other schools or colleges, or find jobs.

The school is closing in July and will reopen in September as an academy.

More than 20 youngsters are affected, the majority of them in Year 12, the first year of non-compulsory education.

An apology has been issued for the way the changes were made.

Wayne Chapman, whose son Lewis, 17, is one of those losing out, said the situation was unacceptable.

Lewis was enrolled on an AS-level in media studies and a GCSE science course at Hengrove.

He has been working temporarily at his father's window factory in Bedminster.

Mr Chapman, 42, from Knowle Park, said his son had opted to stay on at school to improve his employment prospects.

"This has caused anxiety and disruption for my son, and financial loss to my family," he said.

The problems stem from a re-arrangement of post-16 schooling across Bristol in September 2004.

Brislington Enterprise College (BEC) became the provider for south-east Bristol, but agreed to offer some courses at Hengrove.

Late last year, the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) - which funds post-16 education - Bristol City Council and BEC became concerned about the quality of post-16 courses at Hengrove and decided to carry out a review.

This led to a letter, headed Closure of Hengrove Sixth Form Provision, going out to parents of post-16 students at Hengrove inviting them to attend interviews to discuss the options available.

John Matthews, head teacher of Brislington, followed this with a second letter in which he apologised for any anxiety caused and assured families that advice would be given on "alternative provision to meet learner needs".

Mr Matthews told the Evening Post students had since been contacted by phone to invite them in to discuss their courses.

One Year 13 student had now moved to Brislington but none of more than 20 Year 12 students had been in touch, he said.

The LSC said the courses should not have been axed until alternative places had been found for students.

It said students would receive help from the schools involved and the Connexions advice service. It has asked City of Bristol College and St Brendan's Sixth Form College to help.

A spokesman said: "The LSC is very concerned that learners' studies have been interrupted.

"We understand that learning needs for most of the students have been addressed but that there are outstanding issues that need to be resolved."

Hengrove school said the case was not related to the situation a year ago when it had to axe some GCSE courses midway through the year because of budget problems.

Hengrove is closing in July and will be replaced in September by an academy, sponsored by the Christian charity Oasis.

Oasis Academy does not intend to offer post-16 classes in its first year, but its principal, John Will-iams, said any youngsters in Year 12 would be able to complete their studies.

"We aren't in the business of leaving any students by the wayside," he said.

He added: "Our eventual intention is to offer about 200 post-16 places."l Have you been left in limbo by the closure of Hengrove's sixth form? Contact the news desk on 0117 934 3333