Powys County Council has announced a review of post-16 education in the county.  The Local Authority is seeking to address a number of concerns like decreasing budgets and students leaving the county for sixth form. 

The initial documents outline three options for consideration, all of which risk the future of the sixth form at Crickhowell High School.  One proposal involves closing all sixth forms within school settings in Powys and establishing Further Education colleges in Brecon and Newtown.

Crickhowell’s sixth form is one of the most successful in Wales, with 260 pupils opting to study a range of A levels and BTEC courses (compared to 18 pupils at Brecon High School and 20 pupils at Gwernyfed), numbering almost a third of all sixth formers in Powys (currently 960 pupils in total). The results achieved at A level as well as at GCSE in Crickhowell are among the best in Wales, and last year 100% of Crickhowell sixth form school leavers entered training, employment or higher education.

Powys has launched its engagement and will be seeking the views of parents, carers, students and other stakeholders in coming months.  It is vital that the entire community is informed and engages actively in the process.

Why is it important?

The closure of the sixth form is likely to have a profound impact not only on the High School and its outstanding performance but also on the town and broader community, with long-term costs that far outweigh any immediate financial savings.  It will similarly affect many students who travel to Crickhowell from outside Powys for the opportunity to attend an excellent sixth form.

What is the potential impact on Crickhowell High School?

Overall, young people attending a Further Education College are less likely to proceed to Higher Education than their counterparts in Sixth Forms, even when controlling for prior attainment - Social Mobility Commission 2016

The closure of the sixth form will have serious and negative impacts on the educational standards for all learners at Crickhowell High School:

 ☐ Loss of specialty teachers which impacts the standards of subject teaching at all levels    of the school

 ☐ More difficult to attract and retain excellent and specialist teachers

 ☐ Reduced breadth of curriculum

 ☐ Academic disruption for pupils during any transition period

 ☐ Negative impact on student and staff wellbeing and mental health

 ☐ Lack of older students in the setting means opportunities for mentoring, role modelling and aspiration will be lost

 ☐ Loss of personalised education and career advice, and less effective pastoral care     absent long-standing relationships between students and their teachers

 ☐ Students from Crickhowell and surrounding towns will be forced to travel       considerable distances at significant cost and environmental impact

 ☐ Reduced enrolment at the High School altogether, with further knock-on       effects on  standards, educational provision and community impact

I don’t have school-age children, why should I care?

A one percentage point increase in the proportion of pupils achieving 5A*-C at GCSE level can increase house prices in the corresponding local school catchment area by 0.785% - University of Leeds

The High School and its excellent reputation makes an important contribution to our local economy, and without it:

☐ Crickhowell would be less attractive to families

☐ The ageing demographic of the town would worsen

☐ House prices will likely be negatively impacted

☐ Community facilities such as the Library and sports centre are in jeopardy

☐ Threat of job losses for teaching and support staff

☐ Significant economic impact on local businesses and the local economy