Sixth forms

This week the WA has published its proposals to remove the sixth forms of two schools in Rhyl. In the early '90s, that was also planned for Colwyn Bay, along with all the schools in the old county of Clwyd, a plan which died with the county. However, it's worth looking at the idea of hiving of the archaically-named sixth form in a rational way, rather than through the red mist that seems to descend whenever any proposals for dealing with schools is broached.

'Sixth-forms' are a throwback to the days of the Grammar school, when the number of subjects available from 16 - 18 year olds was few and largely determined by the school's staff quotient. In the '70s, however, the emergence of the FE colleges, initially for the less-academically inclined, proved significant competition for the sixth-form, and budgetary constraints for schools, coupled with an expansion of potential subject areas, meant many smaller schools simply couldn't staff and operate their sixth-forms adequately.

Students also faced a dilemma, in that few schools were willing to relax their traditional approach to the sixth-former to the same extent that the FE colleges were, and this resulted in a strange hybrid arrangement, where young people were treated somewhat like children and somewhat like young adults, but never completely like either.

If we look at Colwyn Bay and Llandudno, for instance, we can see that Eirias alone of all the schools has an effective and well-structured sixth-form provision, largely because of the numbers wishing to remain there after 16, and also because of the not-insignificant numbers that transfer in at the start of their year 12 in education. The 'A' level results there are also the best and it would seem irresponsible to suggest that their sixth form be removed or merged. Another factor to consider is the teaching staff. Teachers in secondary schools often describe their year 12 and 13 teaching as 'the topping on the cake', and they clearly derive a lot of personal satisfaction from their interaction with students at that level.

However, all that said, Llandrillo college has been increasing its resources, its staff and its results for years and now boasts one of the finest FE colleges in Wales. The big question, then, is would the year 12 and 13 students from the current secondary schools be better served by a purpose built centre such as the college or their own, often over-stretched, sixth forms?