Students 'appalled' and 'devastated' by Avon Valley College closure

Avon Valley Sixth Form, on Recreation Road, Durrington, announced on Friday it would be closing, blaming "unacceptable financial challenges".

A statement released by the Salisbury Plain Academies Trust said that since 2017, "considerable effort" has been put into increasing the size of the college and by 2020 numbers had increased to 31 in Years 12 and 13 combined.

But, the trust say this figure "remains significantly below a viable number" and latest projections show that it would remain "unsustainable for many years".

'Completely out of the blue'

The students say they were given around three hours notice via email from the school calling for a meeting at 3:30pm on Friday, to be told the sixth form they are currently attending will close from September.

Charlotte Coombes, 17, said she was "appalled".

She added: "Every single student should always be fought for, no matter what year group they are in.

"Seeing as The Sixth Formers are the ones who have given Avon Valley College seven years of continuous support, even through unknown times like right now in a global pandemic, to be dropped in a matter of seconds is some form of joke.

"To think that there was no other choice is totally unacceptable."

Erin Gallagher, 17, from Bulford, is Head Girl at the college.

She said: "It is safe to say that the members of AV6 feel let down is an understatement.

"We are all devastated by the news of the closure and how it was completely out of the blue.

"The members of AV6 all signed up for two years' worth of education, and appallingly for Year 12, now it has been ripped away from them, not only by the Covid-19 pandemic, but by this now also."

'Why wasn't there a consultation?'

Jess Tansey, who has a child enrolled at the college, said the announcement was "devastating", and has written to her MP, Danny Kruger, asking for his help in postponing the closure.

Jess said: "We know that the Trust would have been dealing with this situation for months so why wasn’t there a consultation?

"We have spoken to the trust and asked them to keep the sixth form open for one more year just to get the year 12s through but so far it is like speaking to a brick wall.

"Surely this could be done after these vulnerable children complete the final year of their education?"

'We have been lied to'

Jack Beardsley, 16 from Amesbury, said he is "disgusted" at how he and his fellow students have been treated, and questions the timing of the decision.

He said: "The trustees have evidently known about the financial situation of the academy for quite some time so why only now have they decided to act on it, because I am afraid it is too late.

"They cannot just drop us as they have and think it will be okay and that we will accept this. It is not.

"We have been lied to, disrespected, and treated unfairly - so unbelievably unfairly.

"The anxiety of having to find new provisions to finish our A-Levels or possibly having to start them again due to Year 12 being at risk or repeating Year 12 due to this unforgivable decision is extraordinary.

"And therefore we will do anything we can, to get what we deserve, a normal education and the ability for Year 12 to complete Year 13 at AV6."

Brigadier Paddy Ginn, Commander of 20 Armoured Infantry Brigade and Mr Sam Johnston, Executive Principal for Salisbury Plain Academies outside the new classroom block at Avon Valley College in Durrington

'Deeply sorry for the distress this will cause'

Sam Johnston, Executive Principal, of Salisbury Plain Academies, said both the trust and Avon Valley College are “deeply sorry for the distress this will cause Year 12 students”.

He added: “The MOD funded the new build primarily for the projected increase in numbers after the drawdown from Germany.

"In 2017, the school was expected to grow to more than double its size to around 1,200 pupils.

"Our planning has been based around these numbers and considerable work has gone into increasing the size of the 6th form to make it financially sustainable.

"However, 80 per cent of students choose other providers every year, so without significantly greater numbers coming through, there was no likelihood of the 6th form becoming viable in the future."

Mr Johnston also added that various sources of grant funding that the college were successful in getting in previous years "did not materialise" this year.

He added: "We are committed to ensuring that the transition to Year 13 elsewhere is as smooth as possible and work between our careers advisor, the Head of 6th Form, AVC's senior leadership team and local providers is underway."

Councillor Laura Mayes, Cabinet Member for Children, Education and Skills said: “We know this will be an anxious time for those pupils and their families.  The school is working closely with those affected to ensure they have full access to all available options and are supported to make decisions for the future.

"We are in regular contact with the school to provide advice and support where needed.” 

With thanks to:

• Ben Gazzard, 17.
• Charlotte Coombes, 17.
• Erin Gallagher, 17.
• Jonny Moncrief, 17.
• Jack Beardsley, Age 16.
• Charlotte Dunstan, Age 16.
• Rosie Read, Age 16.

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