Contacts: Melanie Saunders, Education Officer (Secondary/post-16); telephone 01962 846364; e-mail [email protected]

Ian Lawson, Strategic Planning Officer, telephone 01962 846350; e-mail [email protected]

1 Summary

1.1 On 23 March 2006, the Executive Member for Education authorised local consultations on the possible closure of the Sixth Form at Frogmore Community College with effect from July 2008. This paper provides details of the outcome of those consultations.

1.2 The request to undertake consultations had come from the governing body of the school on the grounds that " the sixth form has become neither financially nor educationally viable." The governing body further commented, "we wish to become an outstanding school and the focus on one stage of education rather than two will make this more likely."

1.3 This supports the Corporate Strategy "Maximising well-being" by ensuring that students living in the Frogmore area have access to high quality and sustainable post-16 provision.

1.4 This proposal also supports the achievement of economic wellbeing as specified in The Children Act 2004 by ensuring that action is taken to ensure that 14-19 education is planned in a co-ordinated way.

2 Background

2.1 Frogmore Community College is one of nine 11-18 secondary schools in Hampshire. Hampshire' other sixty-two secondary schools are 11-16 with students transferring to college for post-16 education.

2.2 Since 2001, the college has enjoyed a number of successes including the acquisition of Technology College status in 2003.

2.3 Despite these successes and a sound academic performance, recruitment into year 12 has been erratic over the past few years. This is, in part, due to the increasing success and popularity of other post-16 providers in the vicinity, most notably Farnborough Sixth Form College which enjoys a national reputation for aspects of post-16 provision. Farnborough College of Technology has also extended the wide range of courses on offer and boasts some excellent specialist facilities for delivery.

2.4 On the back of improved facilities and the recent increased support for school sixth forms from central government, the school made a concerted effort to market the sixth form in a fresh and focussed way for the academic year 2006/07. A new brochure was produced and individual interviews held with every student in an effort to highlight benefits of remaining in the school post-16. Despite these comprehensive and unstinting efforts to recruit students into the sixth form, fewer than 50 of the 162 students in year 11 indicated a wish to continue at Frogmore and a number of these were intending to hold more than one sixth form place so actual attendance was by no means certain.

2.5 In January of this year the governing body of the school reluctantly took the decision to ask Hampshire County Council to conduct a consultation over the possible closure of the sixth form.

2.6 The following appendices are included:-

· Appendix 1 : Report to Executive Member for Education seeking permission to consult (23 March 2006)

· Appendix 2 : Letter to Parents dated 28 April 2006

· Appendix 3 : Notes of public meeting held at Frogmore Community College on 11 July 2006

· Appendix 4 : A list of correspondence received which will be on deposit in the Members' room during the week prior to the Executive Member's Decision Day on 12 October 2006.

3 Student Numbers

3.1 The numbers recruited into year 12 at Frogmore Community College have fluctuated from year to year from a high of 62 in 2003/4 to a low of 30 in 2005/06. This represents an average of 46 students recruited to each year 12 over the last five years giving an average total sixth form cohort of 88.The table below gives sixth form numbers at the January of each academic year.

Table 1 - Student Numbers in the sixth form at Frogmore Community College with 2006/07 predicted numbers in italics

3.2 Although school sixth forms do recruit students from other schools, the majority of school sixth forms generally comprise students recruited from the school's own year 11 cohort, as is the case at Frogmore. One of the issues facing the governors of Frogmore Community College is, therefore, the reducing size of the pool for recruitment in future years. Along with many Hampshire schools, Frogmore is facing a declining school population and a predicted increase in surplus places. Year 11 in 2005/6 contained 162 students of whom only 50 expressed an interest in remaining into the sixth form. Future year 11 cohorts are forecast to reduce to a low of 105 in 2010/11 (Year 7 2006/7). With the school recruiting an average of 29% of year 11 over the previous five years, the numbers recruited into year 12 are predicted to decline in line with the numbers in year 11. These trends are illustrated in Table 2.

Table 2 - Year 11 cohorts and predicted recruitment into year 12

3.3 In order to recruit sufficient numbers to establish and maintain a viable sixth form, the school would need to significantly increase the numbers recruited from its own year 11 and market itself successfully in competition with Farnborough Sixth Form College and Farnborough College of Technology in order to, at the least, retain a substantially increased percentage of its own students.

4 Consultation proposals

4.1 The report which sought permission to consult on the closure of the sixth form at Frogmore Community College cited three main reasons for the proposal:

· Financial viability - A sixth form of fewer than 90 students means that funding provided by the County Council for key stages 3 and 4 is likely to be needed to subsidise post-16 provision which is funded by the Learning and Skills Council.

· Educational viability - The college is increasingly unable to offer an appropriate breadth of curriculum nor the range of accreditation.

· Competition from other providers - The proximity of other post-16 institutions means that Frogmore is a very unequal competitor and will continue to be so.

4.2 The recommendation, approved by the Executive Member for Education, was that local consultations be undertaken on the proposal that the sixth form at Frogmore Community College should close.

5 Financial considerations

5.1 School sixth forms are funded by the Leaning and Skills Council (LSC) in common with all post-16 education. Funding is calculated using both student numbers and the courses which are being accessed. In general terms, Further Education funding average group sizes 17 or more are generally considered to lead to a break-even budget. School sixth forms are funded at a slightly higher rate, however, if average group sizes fall below 13 then the equation becomes more difficult and when they become less than 10 the provision is unlikely to remain economically viable. In 2006/7 Frogmore Community College would receive a total of £288,424 for post-16 provision based on the predicted numbers above. The school estimates that the true cost of provision for 2006/07 would be £325,737. In order to meet such a shortfall, a school would have no option but to vire funding intended for 11-16 pupils in years 7-11

5.2 Frogmore has consistently been on the LSC's real term guarantee level of funding which indicates that it has not done well out of the LSC formula and that the funding of the sixth form is always likely to be under pressure.

5.3 In addition to the cost of running a large number of very small sixth form classes financial management is made very difficult by fluctuating and uncertain numbers. Students who express an interest in returning to the sixth form may hold two or more sixth form places and make their final decision following GCSE examination results. If fewer numbers materialise in September than the school has planned for there is a retrospective adjustment of funding the following year. The school, however, will have committed staffing which it is unable to adjust retrospectively. At Frogmore Community College, the fluctuating numbers have lead to very different year-on-year incomes which makes consistent financial and educational planning difficult.

Table 3 - Indicative funding based on sixth form cohort numbers including predicted 06/07 numbers and related funding

Year	Sixth Form cohort	Sixth Form funding £p.a.
2002/3	74	224,398
2003/4	103	299,611
2004/5	116	410,338
2005/6	81	363,874
2006/7	69	288,424

6 Educational opportunities

6.1 Figures released by Hansard in February 2006 appear to support the belief expressed by John Brennan, the Chief Executive of The Association of Colleges that "small sixth forms are unable to provide the quality of specialist teaching and choice of subjects that larger institutions offer." The figures, summarised in Table 4, demonstrate that students in sixth forms with fewer than 50 students achieve, on average, more than 130 points below those in sixth forms of 250 students or more. An A grade at A-level is equivalent to 120 points.

Table 4 - National data showing the relationship between cohort size and average A-Level points scored (Hansard)

Number of Students aged 16-18	2002-2003 Average points score	2003-2004 Average points score	2002-2005 Average points score
250 or more	291.9	298.5	301.6
201-250	282.3	282.8	290.9
151-200	255.9	282.8	256.8
101-150	222.6	226.8	229.1
51-100	196.2	203.0	202.1
50 or fewer	164.9	179.0	169

6.2 In order to respond to the requirement to provide an education in the sixth forms which "enables students to combine academic and vocational studies coherently" (OfSTED - Inspecting School Sixth Forms) and provide sufficient breadth as recommended in the government White Paper "Achieving Success". Frogmore Community College has been forced to run an increasingly broad range of courses despite no increase in student numbers, as shown in Table 5. This means that many courses have operated with 2 or 3 students. A large sixth form college will, typically, offer more than 40 subjects at A-Level and a range of vocational qualifications taught in average groups of 17+ students.

Table 5 - Numbers of students attending Frogmore sixth form and the number of courses which they have accessed

	Number of A/S level courses	Number of A- Level courses	Number of other courses	Number of Students	Average Number per course
2000/01	11	17		87	3.1
2001/02	9	17		64	2.4
2002/03	10	16	3	74	2.5
2003/04	10	16	4	103	3.4
2004/05	20	16	3	116	2.9
2005/06	12	15	4	81	2.6
Average	12	16	2.3	87	2.8

6.3 The 14-19 Implementation Plan, published by the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) in December 2005, defines an entitlement on the part of all students aged 14-19 to access all fourteen Specialised Diplomas at all three levels by 2015. This means that, from 2008, in addition to a range of AS and A-Level courses and other qualifications, all students must be able to access an increasing number of these specialised practical courses up to Level 3 (A-level equivalent) either at their own institution or as part of an area offer.

6.4 Whilst small groups may be of benefit to some students as they allow almost personal tuition, very small groups do not provide the range of views and stimulating debate which is recommended for post-16 study and as preparation for higher education. Practical learning courses, such as the new Specialised Diplomas, require industry-type experiences which are costly and difficult to provide when the numbers of students are small.

6.5 There is no doubt that Frogmore Community College has provided a caring and supportive environment for the post-16 students who have chosen to remain in the school and this was recognised in the 2001 OfSTED inspection report. In the view of the school, some of the students who remain in the sixth form do so because they feel supported and would be less confident in a larger institution.

7 Opportunities in the local area

7.1 Frogmore Community College has offered students the opportunity to remain in their own school which provides an attractive post-16 route for some. However, in the surrounding area, there is a range of alternative post-16 provision, both academic and vocational. When the governors of the school made the decision to ask the County Council to consult over closure, great care was taken to ensure that Year 11 students and their parents were provided with the fullest possible information as soon as it was available to ensure that no student who wished to progress into post-16 education should be disadvantaged.

7.2 Year 11 students and their parents were informed on Wednesday 7 February 2006 of the proposed consultation so that they were able to secure back-up places in addition to their Frogmore application should they wish to do so. The school contacted alternative providers and students were given unstinting support in ensuring they all had appropriate sixth form places should the proposed consultation result in them wishing to pursue their post-16 studies elsewhere.

7.3 Farnborough Sixth Form College which is approximately 3.6 miles away by road had 1,797 students at the time of their last OfSTED report in March 2001 and 96% were studying at level 3 (A-Level or equivalent). Last year the average A-Level score was 378.3, the highest in southern England, with over 800 students progressing to higher education. Despite its size, Farnborough Sixth Form College has a highly regarded pastoral support system.

7.4 Yateley School, which is approximately 1.5 miles away, currently operates a school sixth form with over 200 students, the majority of whom are studying Level 3 courses.

7.5 Farnborough College of Technology (FCoT), which is approximately 5.5 miles away, is a college of Further Education which caters for over 9000 students, both 16-18 year olds and adults. As well as a number of A-Level courses, FCoT offers a wide range of vocational courses, both full and part time. Both Farnborough Sixth Form College and FCoT attract students from a wide geographical area, including from Surrey and the outskirts of London. Some students opt to travel in the opposite direction, however and Guildford College, which is approximately 18 miles away, offers a broad range of A-Level and vocational courses including the opportunity to specialise in a range of land-based qualifications at the Merrist Wood campus.

8 Consultation process and summary of responses to consultation

8.1 A letter was sent to all parents, staff, governors and other interested parties, seeking written responses and a facility was made available for comments to be recorded on a dedicated web-site.

8.2 A summary of responses follows. Copies of letters and e-mails referred to will be available in the Members' Room during the week prior to this meeting.

8.3 The response received from the Learning and Skills Council (Hampshire and the Isle of Wight), supports the proposal and makes the following points:-

· the small size of the sixth form does not support a wide and rich curriculum offer

· the (high) cost of providing small class sizes and the potential drain on the school's pre-16 funding

· there is a wide choice available to students (in the area) wishing to progress to further education.

8.4 The governing body of Farnborough Sixth Form College indicated that they understood the difficult decision take by the governors of Frogmore College and pledged support of their college as a natural post 16 provider for future Frogmore parents.

8.5 Surrey County Council advised that they have no concerns about the proposal.

8.6 Five responses were received in writing via the web-site, four of which disagreed with the proposal to close. Four were from parents and one for a member of staff. The main points raised were:-

· Living in Berkshire, it is not clear whether places would be offered at Farnborough Sixth Form College. Distance would restrict involvement in extra-curricular activities. Suggestion that the sixth forms at Frogmore and Yateley should be amalgamated.

· Frogmore College was chosen because of its excellent access for students with disabilities, not available at other sixth form locations.

· Guarantees must be given about the continuity of courses for students already on courses.

· Consideration should be given to collaboration with Farnborough College of Technology for continuing to provide courses on the Frogmore site.

· The timing of the announcement that closure was being considered was inappropriate as it came soon after students had received offers of places in the sixth form for September 2006. Arrangements made to allow applications to other sixth forms have nullified the consultation process and have ensured that few, if any, students still contemplated entry to the sixth form in September 2006. This has created stress at a time when students were approaching GCSEs. Alternative sixth form offers may require higher grades and may not be accessible. The governing body should have undertaken a review of the reasons for the declining proportion of students staying on at the college. Closure of the sixth form may have a knock-on effect on 11-16 numbers if parents prefer their children to attend a school offering the full 11-19 age range.

8.7 In addition to written consultations, a meeting was held on the evening of 11 July 2006, to which all consultees were invited. A report of that meeting is given in Appendix 3.

9 Views of the local County Councillor

9.1 Councillor Adrian Collett wished to record the following views in relation to the proposal :

"If there was any way that I could argue that this Sixth Form could be kept open, I would.  It has offered choice to local students that is not available at other institutions and it offers the opportunity to enjoy further education without having to travel.

The students, however, have voted with their feet and I know that the Governing Body have explored many options over the past few years to try to keep the numbers at a level which would be viable.

If anyone can come up with a viable future for Frogmore Sixth Form I would be delighted to explore it further.  In the absence of any such option, however, I must support closure and press for it to be carried out as swiftly and cleanly as proper procedures and equity to all students allow.

Finally, this is a massive change for Frogmore Community College and I am aware of the huge impact this is having on school finances.  It would be a grave injustice if the current 11-16 age students had their education compromised in any way because of this transitional period.  I would, therefore, ask that the County Council ensures that appropriate financial support is made available for Frogmore."

10 Responses to the issues raised during consultation

10.1 Timing - Whilst the governing body had, for some time, been discussing the viability of a small sixth form, the need for an early decision was pre-empted by the small number of students who expressed an interest for courses starting in September 2006. The college was concerned that students should not be disadvantaged and miss out on appropriate alternative opportunities, so made considerable effort to ensure that students were fully informed and that those who needed to secure places with alternative providers were supported in doing so.

10.2 Access for students with disabilities - The Special Needs and Disability Act 2001 (and the Post-16 code of Practice July 2002) makes it a legal requirement for a college to ensure it provides equal opportunities for all learners to reach their potential and they must make reasonable adjustments to overcome disadvantages caused by disability. FCoT, for example, employs a Disability Support Worker so that support for students with disabilities is tailored to individual need. A range of specialised equipment is also available.

10.3 Continuity for existing students - The college has pledged that arrangements will be made to ensure that the offer to students who continue in the sixth form is not impoverished.

10.4 Collaboration with other providers - A joint sixth form with Yateley School was trialled between 1980 and 1991 but proved to be unsustainable due to a range of factors as outlined in the report to the Education Operations Sub Committee on 4 July 1989. Any approach from another post-16 provider to offer courses on the Frogmore College site would be carefully considered by the governing body.

11 Summary of the way forward

11.1 Closure of a school sixth form requires the publication of public notices, giving a six week period for formal objections. Under the current legislative framework, if there are any objections the proposal must be submitted to the School Organisation Committee for approval. Being a local authority proposal in response to a request from the governing body of the school, no further approvals are required if there are no objections.

11.2 Students who commenced two year courses in September 2005 will remain at the college until July 2007. As a formal decision to close the sixth form could not be taken until well into the autumn term 2006, the college has continued to offer courses for new students starting in September 2006. If students, therefore, enrol on two year courses, this means that the college would continue to cater for some students in the 16-19 age range until July 2008.

12 Legal implications

12.1 This proposal complies with the statutory framework for planning school places.

13 Financial implications

10.1 When a sixth form closes, the school's total budget loses both the funding by the LSC for sixth form students and the costs of providing sixth form education. However any staff redundancy costs arising from the closure of the sixth form fall upon the Local Authority (LA) Budget and would have to be met from existing budget provision. If any transitional funding is needed that would be a call on the contingency provision within the Schools Budget. It is too early to determine the extent of any such costs.

10.2 Representations are currently being made to the LSC to provide some financial support for Frogmore Community College in managing the costs of very small and declining numbers if closure is approved.

14 Personnel implications

14.1 It is possible that a small number of staff will be displaced by the closure of the sixth form at Frogmore Community College although precise details cannot be identified at this time. If so, every effort will be made to seek redeployment into appropriate alternative posts and to avoid redundancies, in accordance with the procedures agreed with unions and professional associations.

15 Impact assessment

15.1 Race and equality impact assessment has been considered in the development of this report. The closure of the sixth form at Frogmore Community College may affect some students if they find travel to another institution for post-16 study difficult. The cost of travel is also a factor, although students may claim up to £30 per week in the form of an Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) if their family circumstances entitle them to this payment. No racial issues have been identified and, whilst Frogmore provides very good support for students with disabilities or specific learning needs, such facilities are also available at other institutions as referred to in paragraph 10.2

16 Crime prevention issues

16.1 These proposals have been considered against the Crime and Disorder Act 1998. No adverse issues have been identified.

LINK(S) TO CORPORATE STRATEGY
	YES	NO
Hampshire safer and more secure for all		_
Maximising well-being	_
Enhancing our quality of place		_

This proposal does not link to the Corporate Strategy but, nevertheless, requires a decision because:

Recommendations

That the Executive Member for Education notes the outcomes of the consultation and approves the publication of public notices, in accordance with Section 28 of The School Standards and Framework Act 1998, for the closure of the sixth form at Frogmore Community College, with effect from July 2008.

Section 100 D - Local Government Act 1972 - background documents

The following documents discuss facts or matters on which this report, or an important part of it, is based and have been relied upon to a material extent in the preparation of this report.

NB: the list excludes

1. Published works

2. Documents which disclose exempt or confidential information as defined in the Act.

None