Torfaen want to close down the sixth forms and replace them with a new-build £20m college based in Cwmbran. This is unfair given the academic success of the sixth forms, unnecessarily disruptive when results are so good already, and will potentially lead to the loss of 30-40 jobs and disadvantage students living in the north of the borough. Sixth forms make schools better; they provide opportunities for mentoring and aspiration and transition to FE and HE is very good. There is no evidence to suggest outcomes and student experience would improve if the proposals went through. Students can already choose to attend college in Pontypool, Cross Keys or Ebbw Vale. This proposal removes the choice that many students currently make to attend sixth form. Many of them feel concerned about moving to a college structure where they feel they will have less support and be more anonymous. Torfaen also stands to lose many quality staff who would prefer to work in other boroughs in 11-18 schools. The college would not offer Teacher's pay and conditions so it isn't a secure option for staff to transfer to work in the college, where they often have zero-hour contracts and limited holidays and payscale. They are also proposing to place the college in an already busy, crowded area where traffic is congested, which will make the journey time even longer for students travelling from Blaenavon, Abersychan and even Pontypool.

For more detail please see our blog post.

Please support our petition to save our sixth forms, for you and your children's future.