Proposed sixth form closure due to falling numbers

Cottingham High School is home to 900 students, and is part of The Consortium Academy Trust

An East Yorkshire school has proposed closing its sixth form.

In a letter to parents, Cottingham High School said the "deeply disappointing" move was due to "falling numbers" of students. There are currently only eight students in year 12.

The school said it would consult with parents on the move before officially sending a business case for the closure to the Department for Education.

Cottingham High School has been contacted for comment.

In a letter to parents, the school said the sixth form "has been an important part of the school to date".

The school attached a rationale for the closure, which said: "The majority of our Year 11 students are not opting to stay at the Sixth Form."

The document stated there were currently 32 students in year 13 and eight in year 12.

The document said: "Having recently canvassed interest from our current Year 11 students there are only 12 interested in staying."

It said the continued running of the Sixth Form would have a "negative financial impact on educational provision for all of our students".

The school also said students currently in year 12 would be able to continue their two-year courses at nearby Consortium Sixth Form College – Hessle and Wolfreton Campus.

The news comes as another school in East Yorkshire, Holderness Academy, also announced plans to close its sixth form in September.

The school also blamed falling student numbers for the move, stating there were only 12 students currently in year 13.

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