APPENDIX A: STATUTORY PROPOSAL
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
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
Due to the demographics of the area, post 16 numbers on roll at 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 Wensleydale School 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 Wensleydale School 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.