Redruth School sixth form to close

Redruth School suspended its sixth form for new admissions in 2016 and the final students completed their courses in 2018.

In April the school is set to formally close its sixth form for good. The decision has to be signed off by Cornwall Council.

The school held formal consultation about the plans at the end of last year after announcing the proposals to close the sixth form.

Under the plans the school will continue to operate as a secondary school for 11 to 16-year-olds.

In its consultation document the school states: “This alteration is due to a lack of demand for post-16 places at the school, coupled with the inevitable disproportionate costs and importantly, the resultant quality of education, including curriculum breadth available to its students. The final sixth form students at the school completed their studies in 2018. Since new admissions into the sixth form were suspended in September 2016, the school has diverted its resources and energies into the 11-16 age group.

“Building on previous good work, the school is ranked one of the highest in the county for standards of education and support for students of all abilities and all backgrounds. The school’s popularity is such that it is now well oversubscribed and looks set to offer an excellent education for pupils now and in the future.

“This proposal does not affect other educational institutions within the area, and allows the school to offer outstanding and objective advice and guidance to all its students about their future pathways through apprenticeships, college based vocational studies, technical levels and A-levels. Since the last post 16 students finished in August 2018, the school plans have allowed maximum use of the available space for its existing and future students and this will further allow the school to recruit students locally, up to its maximum capacity.”

Cornwall Council is expected to approve the decision to close the sixth form later this month.