End to post-16 at Withernsea High School approved

East Riding Council’s cabinet has agreed to end post-16 education at Withernsea High School after the second year of no new Year 12s.

East Riding Council’s cabinet approved the move following a consultation in June and July which received two responses, one supportive and one opposed.

Council Chief Executive Caroline Lacey told the cabinet Withernsea High School’s governing body requested its end after low numbers of students for “a number of years”.

Children and Young People’s Portfolio Holder Cllr Victoria Aitken said she and council officers were looking at putting on transport so Withernsea pupils could get to colleges elsewhere.

The decision comes as a report to the cabinet stated dwindling numbers of students had also seen the amount of courses offered at the sixth form decline “significantly”.

It added it had not taken in a Year 12 cohort in 2020 or this September, with all of this year’s Year 11 pupils heading elsewhere or going into work.

School figures showed 22 students enrolled in the school’s sixth form in September 2019, with 16 progressing to Year 13 but 87 needed to make it viable.

The cabinet heard today (Wednesday, September 1) that the consultation on the plans received two responses.

East Riding College responded positively but a former school teacher raised concerns that its students would have “poorer outcomes” as a result but they recognised its “dilemma”.

Mrs Lacey said the decline in post-16 students at the school mirrored a fall in students opting for school sixth forms and heading to dedicated colleges instead.

Cllr Aitken said all Year 11s having places or jobs this year showed the East Riding’s education system “is working” for them despite the upcoming closure.

The portfolio holder said:

“Research has been done into transport and into ensuring the right information is available to the youngsters there.

“I can assure members there is more than adequate provision to get kids from Withernsea to their post-16 education.

“As much as it’s a shame, we’re in a different place now and we need to provide college provision as well as wider opportunities.”

Economy Portfolio Holder Cllr Jane Evison said that while removing post-16 education from any town was a big decision, there “isn’t felt to be the need”.

She also called for council officers to give information to Withernsea High School and other colleges to make pupils aware of their options, including careers for leavers.

The cabinet member said:

“With the Humber Freeport and Saltend, there’s tremendous amounts of opportunities for young people in that area.

“We’ve done as much as we can to ensure young people are properly served.”

Council leader Cllr Jonathan Owen said:

“It’s always sad to take a decision like this but it’s our duty to make sure children and young adults have the best futures possible.

“If the school doesn’t feel it can sustain it and as we’ve had no consultation responses from parents I’m happy to go along with this.”