SIR - Dr Matt Lamb, head of the general education faculty at Worcester College of Technology, suggests that a sixth form at a city high school is inadvisable.
This is due to some research that claims sixth forms with fewer than 50 students achieve lower average points. Another interesting feature of research into A-level results is that the performance is lower generally in further education and technology colleges compared to schools and sixth form colleges. I would suggest he considers the following:
l Parents, governors, staff and pupils at Blessed Edward Oldcorne Catholic College are not looking at a sixth form of 50 students but a sixth form comparable to other schools with more than 1,000 Year 7 to Year 11 pupils and a sixth form of 200-plus students.
l The excellent results, including retention rates at Hagley RC and St Augustine's RC High schools in Worcestershire, show performances that exceed many other post-16 institutions.
l High performing sixth forms exist in Malvern, Bromsgrove, Pershore and Evesham.
l All the above schools provide a sixth form education that is successful and broad in breadth of choice.
There are very many highly successful school sixth forms across the whole country. Why not Worcester city?
SEAN DEVLIN,
Principal - Blessed Edward Oldcorne Catholic College
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