DESPITE “overwhelming” public support for keeping Milford Haven School’s sixth form, Pembrokeshire Council is to discuss this week future steps for its removal.
A consultation on the future of sixth form provision at the school was held earlier in the year following a request from its governing body concerned about post 16 viability.
Milford Haven School governors highlighted declining pupil numbers – 46 in January – reduced curriculum options and provision not meeting the needs of learners.
A Pembrokeshire County Council’s first meeting of the full council since lockdown in March councillors will be asked to approve the next step in the process – that the director for children and schools be authorised to publish a statutory notice to allow the school to remove its sixth form.
There was 169 responses to the consultation, 13 percent supporting the proposal, and 81 percent against removing the sixth form, along with a petition to keep it open with 680 signatures.
A report to the meeting on Thursday, July 16 states: “Notwithstanding the obvious public support to maintain the sixth form at Milford Haven School, there is little evidence to demonstrate that the concerns of the governing body can be alleviated by maintaining the status quo. Consequently, it is considered that providing a maximum focus on compulsory 11-16 provision significantly outweighs the various arguments received as consultation responses for the retention of the sixth form.”
A level courses could be taken at Haverfordwest High or Henry Tudor School in Pembroke, as well as post 16 education options at Pembrokeshire College, with transport available for those that live more than three miles from the campus in Haverfordwest.
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