A SIXTH Form faces closure just less than a decade after its doors were opened.
Smith’s Wood Sports College sixth form department could close in August 2018 due to low pupil numbers and the effect this has on the delivery of the curriculum.
The sixth form opened its doors in 2009 and had the capacity to welcome 200 post-16 pupils.
Pupil numbers peaked in September 2012 at 160 but have been declining ever since and in September 2016 only 67 pupils were signed up across year 12 and 13.
Solihull Council’s Children, Education and Skills committee agreed for the matter to go to consultation at a meeting last Thursday (February 16).
Once the consultation is agreed there will be time for Silhillians to have their say on whether the sixth form at the College should be closed and put forward any viable alternate options.
The College is set to convert into an academy on April 1 under the wing of the Fairfax Academy Trust and ultimately the decision on whether to close the sixth form will lie with the Regional School Commissioner rather than the Council.
In documents released by the Council ahead of the meeting it states by starting the consultation process now rather than waiting until school turns into an academy staff at the school can start to work with parents and students on potential pathways for September 2017 for their Year 11 students rather than delaying and extending the period of uncertainty and concern.
