Avon Valley College Sixth Form to close
'Difficult decision' made to shut AV6 at the end of this academic year
Last updated 30th Jan 2021
The Salisbury Plain Academies Trust Board has announced it's closing Avon Valley College Sixth Form at the end of the July 2021 term.
Avon Valley College in Durrington is one of the five schools in the Salisbury Plain Academies Trust, and has just over 400 pupils in Key Stages 3-5. mainly from Durrington, Larkhill and Bulford.
Financial difficulties are being blamed for the decision, with apparently 'no other option' available except closure of the college's Sixth Form.
A new 15 classroom block was opened at the college last September, which included space that had been specifically aimed at the anticipated expansion of the Sixth Form.
TRUST STATEMENT
"On Wednesday 27th January, the Salisbury Plain Academies Trust Board made the difficult decision to close the Avon Valley College 6th Form at the end of this academic year (July 2021). The forecast was that, without closure, the whole school and the wider Trust schools would be facing unacceptable financial challenges from 2021-22."
URGENT AND IMMMEDIATE ACTION
The Board wasted no time in reaching its conclusion, describing the dwindling number of 6th Form students as not 'viable' and 'unsustainable':
The Board has said since 2017 considerable effort has been put into increasing the size of Avon Valley College Sixth Form (AV6) and by 2020 numbers had increased to 31 in Years 12 and 13 combined. However, this figure remains significantly below a viable number and the latest projections for local population figures show that it would remain unsustainable for many years.
Mr John Nutt, Chair of the Salisbury Plain Academies Trust Board said:
"This was a very difficult decision for the Salisbury Plain Academies Trust Board but the financial situation left us with no other option. Everything possible will now be done to assist the pupils and others who are going to be affected by the closure."
AV6 - WHAT HAPPENS NOW?
The immediate priority will be supporting the current Year 12s with the completion of their courses at other providers. That work has begun, and funds will be made available to ensure that as much of the work that has been completed will contribute to their achievement of their respective qualifications.
The closure of the 6th Form will enable the best possible educational resourcing for Key Stages 3 and 4 at Avon Valley College and this action will ensure its stability as Year 7 grows and school improvement work continues to have a sustained and significant impact on outcomes and life chances of pupils.