A proposal to close the sixth form at Boroughbridge High School for up to two years will be discussed this week.
The school held a consultation with staff, students, parents/carers and governors from mid-November to mid-December 2021 — it has not yet released the results.
The consultation asked for thoughts on the “suspension of sixth form from September 2022 for up to two years”. It added:
“Due to the demographics of the area, numbers on roll at Boroughbridge High School have decreased.
“That is making it more difficult to maintain viable class sizes at post-16. Both in terms of quality of experience, subject breadth and financial viability.”
Federation with King James’ School
Boroughbridge High School and King James’s School in Knaresborough federated in January 2021.
The federation of governors, which act on behalf of both schools, will discuss the proposal on Thursday.
A federation is a formal agreement between two or more schools to work together to raise standards while remaining separate.
Currently, sixth form students attend both schools depending on their subjects. Under the proposal, King James’s School would provide all courses and pastoral support.
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The Stray Ferret asked for an interview with Boroughbridge High School. Headteacher Kathryn Stephenson (pictured) said in a statement:
“The proposal is to temporarily suspend sixth form provision at Boroughbridge High School from September 2022 for a period of up to two years.
“The responses to the consultation will be considered by the governing body at its next meeting.”
‘Disturbed and alarmed’
Brian Dooks, who served as a governor of Boroughbridge Primary School and Boroughbridge High School for nearly 20 years, told the Stray Ferret:
“I am disturbed and alarmed to learn that Boroughbridge High School could be about to lose its on-site sixth form.
“I was one of the governors who fought long and hard for the creation of the sixth form, which was attended by my two daughters.
“My former governors will take some serious persuading that it will not rapidly become a permanent solution to the detriment of generations of young people.
“In the last 10 years the Boroughbridge population has exploded. If there was justification for a sixth form in the 1990s, that must be true in 2022.”
