THE sixth form at Seaford Head Community College is to close.
Angry parents and students protested against the plans to shut the college's sixth form when it was proposed in October last year.
Parent Tom Roper who started campaign group Keep Seaford Head's Sixth Form said he is very disappointed.
He said: '
We think it is bad not only for those to be affected directly but for the town generally. 'What I am most disappointed by is if you look at the reports they do not take up any of our arguments about whether a sixth form is viable. We felt we made our arguments very strongly and they have failed to reply to them. As we suspected all along it had been rubberstamped and the decision already taken before the consultation. We think it is very sad.'
Headteacher Lynton Golds said: 'Although this marks an end to the historic sixth form provision at Seaford Head Community College it leaves a door open for the possible future development of post-16 provision as other qualifications such as the national diplomas roll out.'
The sixth form will close from September 2009, however, it will continue to offer the specialised post-16 sports packages.
It will also commit to at least annually reviewing the situation in line with the college's specialist status designation along with local demand and any emerging national qualifications
Robert Brandley, chair of governors, said: 'This is a very positive outcome as the recommendation enables the college to maintain its extremely popular and successful sixth form sports packages and to continue to review other sixth form opportunities which are in line with the college's specialist status, local demand and national qualifications.'
The college was told in February last year by the Government that its bid to become a Sports Science Specialist College had been successful.