Proposals all Northern Kirklees - sixth form

Strengthen 16 to 19 education by consolidating all school sixth forms at Heckmondwike Grammar School and The Mirfield Free Grammar and Sixth Form, creating 1400 places open to all students from across North Kirklees.

We want to create a new organisation - a trust - with the university, further education colleges and schools.

The new trust would oversee what is offered to all young people from 14 to 19 years. By working together we can make it easer for young people post 14 to make their choices and continue their education locally.

What would this mean?

• Enlarging the size of Heckmondwike Grammar School from 400 to 900 places for 16 to 19 year olds
• Enlarging the size of Mirfield Free Grammar and Sixth Form from 270 to 500 places for 16 to 19 year olds
• Closing sixth form provision at Batley Girls’ High School - Visual Arts College
• Working with the governing bodies to propose a change to the upper limit from 18 to 16 years at Whitcliffe Mount – Specialist Business and Enterprise College (VC) and St John Fisher Catholic High School
  

Your questions answered

Do we need to change?
Yes. We want all our young people to stay and succeed in education or training post 16 and take advantage of our growing local economy.

We need to provide a greater choice of learning options and qualifications to motivate young people and to develop their talents, interests and aspirations. By 2013 all students aged 14 to19 will have access to 17 diplomas and a new programme of apprenticeships.

Larger 16 to 19 sixth forms are the best way to deliver this wider range of academic and vocational subjects and courses.
We want to build on existing excellence and strengthen all 16 to 19 education by consolidating all school sixth forms on two sites, to get the best teaching and facilities for all.

Heckmondwike Grammar School is rated by Ofsted as ‘outstanding’ and The Mirfield Free Grammar and Sixth Form as ‘good’. The sites have the physical capacity and are well located for access by young people across North Kirklees.

When would changes take place?

• Building work to enlarge Heckmondwike Grammar School would start in January 2012 to allow additional students to be enrolled from September 2012.
• Building work to enlarge Mirfield Free Grammar would start in Autumn 2013 to allow additional students to be enrolled from September 2014.
• Batley Girls’ High School - Visual Arts College would close on 31st August 2010 but the sixth form would continue as part of the transitional arrangements. The sixth form would enrol the final group of sixth form girls in September 2011 and be fully closed by August 2013.
• The timing of the proposed change to the upper limit from 18 to 16 years at Whitcliffe Mount – Specialist Business and Enterprise College (VC) has yet to be agreed with the Governing Body. The indicative transition plan suggests that the sixth form would enrol the final group of sixth form students in September 2011 and be fully closed by August 2013.
• We will work with the Diocese and the Governing Body of St John Fisher Catholic High School to agree a joint approach for maintaining the faith dimensions of 16-19 provision for Catholic students. These discussions will then determine the timing of statutory proposals to change the upper limit at the school from 18 to 16 years.
  

Proposal 9

Retain and develop Heckmondwike Grammar School as a co-educational centre for learning for 770 11 to 16 year olds and, 900 16 to 19 year olds

We want to create a new organisation - a trust - with the university, further education colleges and schools. The new trust would oversee what is offered to all young people from 14 to 19 years. By working together we can make it easer for young people post 14 to make their choices and continue their education locally.

What would this mean?

• Retaining the current provision for 770 pupils aged 11 to 16 years
• Enlarging the size of the school from 400 to 900 places for 16 to 19 year olds
  

Your questions answered

Who could go to Heckmondwike Grammar School?
There are no plans to change the current admission arrangements for 11 to 16 year olds. This a selective school that offers places to pupils identified by means of an entrance exam as being in the top 25% of the ability range. Full details are published in the Kirklees Council’s publication ‘Guide for Parents: Secondary Schools in Kirklees’. This is sent to families of year 6 pupils every September. Applications for online admissions would reflect the same arrangements.

What would change for 11 to 16 year olds?
There are no plans to change the existing provision for 11 to 16 year olds. Heckmondwike Grammar School is rated by Ofsted as ‘outstanding’. Standards are well above both the Kirklees and national averages. In 2007, 100% of Heckmondwike Grammar School pupils achieved 5 or more GCSEs at Grade C or above compared with the Kirklees average of 55% and the national average of 61%.
The existing specialisms of Technology and Languages would be retained.

What would change for 16 to 19 year olds?
We want to build on existing excellence and strengthen 16 to 19 education by consolidating all school sixth forms at Heckmondwike Grammar School and The Mirfield Free Grammar, creating 1400 places open to all students from across North Kirklees. This will enhance the range of academic and vocational choices and opportunities available for young people as outlined in the sixth form section above.

How would the building change?
All schools will receive investment in their buildings and facilities to develop and improve schools and create stimulating learning environments. The sixth form facilities will be enlarged and this work should start early in 2012 so that additional places are available from September 2012.

Proposal 10

Retain and develop St John Fisher Catholic High School as a co-educational centre for learning for 1000, 11 to 16 year olds
What would this mean?

• Retaining the current provision for 1000 pupils aged 11 to 16 years
• Working with the governing body to propose a change to the upper age limit from 18 to 16 years
  

Your questions answered

Who could go to St John Fisher Catholic High School?
There are no plans to change the current admission arrangements. The school was founded by the Catholic Church to provide education for children of Catholic families resident in the Heavy Woollen Deanery of the Leeds Diocese. Full details of admission arrangements are published in the Kirklees Council’s publication ‘Guide for Parents: Secondary Schools in Kirklees’. This is sent to families of year 6 pupils every September. Applications for online admissions would reflect the same arrangements.

What would change for 11 to 16 year olds?
There are no plans to change the existing provision for 11 to 16 year olds. St. John Fisher is rated by Ofsted as good. Standards are above the Kirklees average, and broadly equivalent to the national average. In 2007, 60% of St. John Fisher pupils achieved 5 or more GCSEs at Grade C or above compared with the Kirklees average of 55% and the national average of 61%. The existing specialism of sport would be retained.

What would change for 16-19 year olds?
We want to build on existing excellence and strengthen 16 to 19 education by consolidating all school sixth forms at Heckmondwike Grammar School and The Mirfield Free Grammar, creating 1400 places open to all students from across North Kirklees. This will enhance the range of academic and vocational choices and opportunities available for young people as outlined in the sixth form section above.

How would the building change?
All schools will receive investment in their buildings and facilities to develop and improve schools and create stimulating learning environments. This work should take place during the school year 2013 - 2014.