Maria Eagle MP says the Closure of Halewood Academy Sixth Form Places a cap on Aspiration for Borough’s Young People and Urges Regional Schools Commissioner to Refuse Permission for it to Close

Garston and Halewood MP Maria Eagle said:  “I am very disappointed by the decision that has been reached by the Directors of Halewood Academy to close the Sixth Form, which will leave Knowsley without any A Level provision.  The school has been put in an impossible position because of the way the Government funds schools.  It sends out an entirely wrong message to local young people that Knowsley is not the place to for those who have aspiration.

I believe the school has done the best it could under significant pressure from this Tory Government who are ploughing ahead with the privatisation of our schools.  Ultimately, this has been a financial decision which the school have had to make as part of the academisation programme being driven by the Tories without due consideration for the local community here in Knowsley.

I would now urge the Regional Schools Commissioner Vicky Beer to refuse permission to close the Sixth Form while alternative A Level provision is considered.  That might mean temporarily providing funding to Halewood Academy so that its Sixth Form can remain open until another A Level provider has been established within Knowsley Borough.

It is a disgrace that parents and pupil have been put in this position of uncertainty which has been going on for many months.”