Unity Schools Partnership undertook a public consultation last term following its proposal that the Sixth Form of Felixstowe School be closed and the age range of the school changed to 11-16.
This proposal was made because, for several years, the numbers of pupils choosing to study at the Sixth Form has been declining and had reached an unsustainable level. This has the effect that every year the school must spend a significant proportion of its budget keeping the Sixth Form open, money that is intended to support pupils in Years 7-11. Continuing with this model would be morally, financially and educationally questionable.
The consultation received several responses from parents and local organisations, including the Town Council, the County Council and the MP for the constituency in which the school is located. Whilst responses were broadly understanding of the financial arguments for closure, there was strong opposition to this outcome, due to the fact that it would leave the town without any form of post-16 educational provision. A plea for greater effort to be made to work collaboratively with other providers was also seen across consultation responses.
As a result of having heard this feedback, the Trust’s leadership has been working with leaders and Governors at the school to come up with an alternative to closure.
The new Vocational qualifications (‘V Levels’) being launched by the Department for Education (DfE) provide an opportunity to consider joint-delivery of pathways that offer something different for students, beyond traditional purely academic or vocational routes.
In a joint-delivery model, the School would work in partnership with a local College of Further Education, with students on these pathways studying one or two A Levels at Felixstowe School and one or two V Levels at the FE college. The involvement of a large local employer in this partnership would add further value, helping to structure qualification pathways suitable for both employment in the area or as preparation for higher studies. For example, a vocational qualification delivered by an FE college would combine well with A Levels like Business Studies or Mathematics taught by the School.
However, such an approach cannot be quickly agreed or implemented, and most V Levels will not be available to be taught until September 2028. So, to give the School the space to do the work of putting in place the necessary partnerships, planning and staffing, the Trust has agreed to invest funding from its reserves so that the School’s core budget can be protected and the Sixth Form remain open in 2027 and 2028 with a limited but relevant offer.
To achieve this, the School is proposing two Sixth Form pathways to its current Year 11 pupils, who would start Year 12 in September 2027:
| Pathway | Qualifications | Purpose and progression |
| Humanities | A-Levels in History Sociology Criminology | A coherent academic and applied route developing extended writing, source analysis, evidence-based argument and understanding of society. Progression includes social sciences, law, public services, education, related degrees and higher apprenticeships. |
| Digital and Technical | Level 3 IT Level 3 Engineering Level 3 Business | A practical, employment-facing route developing digital capability, technical problem-solving and commercial understanding. Progression includes digital industries, engineering, manufacturing, business, technical employment, higher education and apprenticeships. |
These pathways have been arrived at following discussions with parents/ carers and pupils and an Expression of Interest exercise which indicated which qualifications would be likely to attract the greatest interest.
The School is now carrying out preparations to deliver both pathways. The final decision to go ahead will depend on either pathway receiving the minimum viable number of applicants (8) in January.
The Trust and the School are hopeful that many in Year 11 will see the usefulness and relevance of the pathways on offer and also be attracted by the opportunity to continue studying in a familiar environment, with trusted adults and without the need for daily travel beyond the town.
However, it is possible that there will prove to be insufficient interest in this offer. If that were the case, a decision to close the Sixth Form would still need to be taken as it is not permitted by DfE to remain open without pupils. It must also be acknowledged that it might not be possible to establish the partnerships with an FE provider/ local employer needed to make our plans for 2028 onwards possible – but we will proceed in good faith with this ambition in mind.
Lots of work has already taken place to get to this stage, and the next two years will require significant investment from USP’s reserves and an equal investment of effort from school leaders. This reflects the Trust and School’s commitment to doing the right thing for the town and to listening to feedback. We invite the support of parents and the wider community in our efforts to provide a meaningful and sustainable post-16 education offer for young people in Felixstowe