APPENDIX 8: STATUTORY PROPOSAL AND STATUTORY NOTICE

 

 

 

Statutory Proposal by North Yorkshire Council to change the age range at Wensleydale School and Sixth Form by ceasing the Sixth Form Provision

 

 

Full Proposal Document

 

 

Name and contact details of the Local Authority or governing body publishing the proposal

North Yorkshire Council, County Hall, Northallerton, North Yorkshire, DL7 8AE

 

Name, address and category of the school proposed for alteration

The Wensleydale School and Sixth Form (Community secondary school), Richmond Road, Leyburn, North Yorkshire, DL8 5HY

 

Proposed implementation date

31 August 2025

 

Description of alteration and evidence of demand

To lower the age range of Wensleydale School and Sixth Form by ceasing sixth form provision at the request of the Governing Board.

 

Objectives educational standards and parental choice

In response to falling numbers of sixth form pupils, and following consultation, the decision was made by the Governing Board to temporarily suspend entries to the Sixth Form at The Wensleydale School and Sixth Form for two years to take effect from September 2023.

 

Due to the demographics of the area, post 16 numbers on roll at The Wensleydale School and Sixth Form have decreased, making it more difficult to maintain viable class sizes at post-16 in terms of quality of experience, subject breadth and financial viability.

 

Alternative post 16 provision is available and is being accessed by pupils who have attended Wensleydale School and Wensleydale staff work hard to help ensure a smooth transition.

 

In September 2023, out of 56 students who had attended  The Wensleydale School and Sixth Form in Year 11, 43 chose to remain in education.  14 of these attended a sixth form, 14 attended a sixth form college, and 15 of these followed vocational courses in Further Education.  Another 7 went into apprenticeships and 2 went into full time employment, with training. 

 

 

                       

Item

Total

Full time education

43

School sixth-form

14

Sixth-form college

14

Further education

15

Higher education

0

Full Time Training

0

Apprenticeship

7

Apprenticeship

7

Employment combined with training

2

Full time employment with regulated qualification

2

 

Those studying A Level courses in a school sixth form went to Richmond School and in a sixth form college went to Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College, Darlington.

 

Effect on other schools, academies and educational institutions within the area

As noted above, pupils who attended Wensleydale School in Year 11 are accessing post 16 provision in a range of educational settings. The sixth form at Richmond School and Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College in Darlington are not oversubscribed and have the ability to take on more A Level students and Darlington FE College and Askham Bryan offer a wide range of vocational courses.

 

Project Costs

There are no capital implications as a result of this proposal as the school would continue to run their 11-16 education provision across the whole of the existing site and its buildings.

 

As there are currently no pupils in the sixth form at The Wensleydale School and Sixth Form there would be no immediate transportation costs. Any pupils living in the current Wensleydale School and Sixth Form catchment area applying for post 16 places would be assessed under the Council’s Post 16 Transport Policy Statement at the appropriate time. As such future transport costs cannot be estimated.

 

Implementation

Following a formal decision to approve the lowering of age range, the sixth form would close from 31 August 2025.

 

Procedure for making representations (objections and comments)

Within four weeks from the date of publication of this proposal, any person may object to or make comments on the proposalby sending them to CorporateDirector-  Children and Young People's  Service,  North  Yorkshire Council,  County  Hall,  Northallerton,  DL7 8AE or by email to schoolorganisation@northyorks.gov.uk by 5pm on 28 February 2025.

 

 

 

 

 

NORTH YORKSHIRE COUNCIL

 

Change of age range at Wensleydale School and Sixth Form by closing the Sixth Form Provision

 

Notice is hereby given in accordance with the School Organisation (Prescribed Alterations to Maintained Schools) (England) Regulations 2013 that North Yorkshire Council, County Hall,Northallerton, DL7 8AD is proposing to make a prescribed alteration to The Wensleydale School and Sixth Form (community secondary school), Richmond Road, Leyburn, North Yorkshire, DL8 5HY by lowering its age range from 11-18 to 11-16, by closing the sixth form provision, with effect from 31 August 2025.

 

The notice is an extract from the complete proposal. A copy ofthe complete proposal can be viewed at: https://www.northyorks.gov.uk/your-council/consultations-and-engagement/current-consultations

 

Copies of the complete proposal can be obtained from: Strategic Planning -   Children and Young People's Service, North Yorkshire Council, County Hall,   Northallerton, DL7 8AD and are available on the Council's website at https://www.northyorks.gov.uk/your-council/consultations-and-engagement/current-consultations

 

Within four weeks from the date of publication of this proposal, any person may object to or make comments on the proposal by sending them to Strategic Planning - Children and Young People's  Service,  North   Yorkshire   Council,   County   Hall,   Northallerton,   DL7 8AD, or by email to schoolorganisation@northyorks.gov.uk by 5pm on28 February 2025.

 

Signed                                                          B. Khan

Assistant Chief Executive

(Legal andDemocratic Services)

Publication Date:                                         31 January 2025