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Felixstowe School plans to keep providing post-16 education

Plans to close the sixth form at Felixstowe School have been scrapped <i>(Image: Felixstowe School)</i>
Plans to close the sixth form at Felixstowe School have been scrapped (Image: Felixstowe School)
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A school has dramatically reversed plans to close its sixth form as part of a shake-up of post-16 education.

Unity Schools Partnership, which operates Felixstowe School, will keep providing post-16 education at the school – if there is sufficient interest from students and if a new partnership model proves possible.

A public consultation prompted a rethink of the earlier decision to pause entry.

In January, the trust revealed it would pause sixth form entry due to low student numbers and the financial impact on the wider school budget.

But a Unity Schools Partnership spokesman said: "Following the consultation, we have worked closely with school leaders and governors and listened to stakeholders and the local community to present an alternative plan.

"It was clear that there was a strong support for some form of post-16 educational provision in the town despite the low numbers choosing to stay on for A-Levels in recent years.

"While it is clearly not the right thing to continue the current model, we are excited to look at alternatives in a bid to give post-16 pupils in Felixstowe the option to stay on at the school."

The revised plan aims to introduce a joint delivery model with a local Further Education college, offering a blend of A-Levels and V-Levels tailored to meet the needs of local employers.

Most V-Levels will not be available until September 2028, but Unity has agreed to fund a limited sixth form offer using its reserves until then, should there be sufficient interest.

The spokesman added: "Lots of work has already taken place to get to this stage, and the next two years will require significant investment from our reserves – and an equal investment of effort from school leaders.

"This reflects the Trust and school’s commitment to doing the right thing for the town and to listening to feedback.

"We hope the local community of Felixstowe will support our efforts to provide a meaningful and sustainable post-16 education offer for young people in Felixstowe."

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