Leaders welcome Felixstowe School sixth form U-turn

Unity Schools Partnership, which runs Felixstowe School, announced on Tuesday, November 10, that it would be pursuing an "alternative plan" to deliver post-16 education after announcing a pause on entry to the sixth form in January due to low student numbers and the financial impact on the wider school budget.

The revised plan involves a joint delivery model with a local Further Education college, offering a blend of A-Levels and V-Levels tailored to meet the needs of local employers.

Suffolk Coastal MP Jenny Riddell-Carpenter said the proposals were a "positive step" in ensuring young people had access to skills and qualifications (Image: The Labour Party)

Jenny Riddell-Carpenter, MP for Suffolk Coastal, said: "I'm really pleased that we've reached this point, and that there is now a promising plan in place to build a future for post-16 education in Felixstowe.

"These proposals are a really positive step in ensuring that young people in Felixstowe have access to the skills and qualifications that will serve them well in the future."

Most V-Levels will not be available until September 2028, but Unity has agreed to fund a limited sixth form offer using its reserves until then, should there be sufficient interest.

Darren Aitchison, chair of the school's governors, was pleased that the trust had listened to the school governors (Image: Felixstowe Town Council)

Darren Aitchison, chair of Felixstowe School’s Local Governing Board, said: "Governors have worked closely with school leaders and Unity Schools Partnership throughout this process, and I am grateful that the trust has listened carefully to the feedback received from students, parents and the wider community.

"I sincerely hope that parents and students will support these proposals and help us build a sustainable and ambitious future for sixth form education in Felixstowe."

Councillor Michael Hadwen, leader of Suffolk County Council, said: "I’m absolutely delighted.

Suffolk County Council leader Michael Hadwen, a Felixstowe resident, was delighted at the sixth form U-turn (Image: Joao Santos)

"As a Felixstowe resident, I made it my mission to push for a replacement post-16 offer in the town.

"We now have the opportunity to build something sustainable that works for Felixstowe’s young people."

Felixstowe town councillor Mike Deacon welcomed the U-turn, but was concerned students would still have to travel to Ipswich for their education (Image: Newsquest)

Felixstowe town councillors David Rowe and Mike Deacon cautiously supported the move, but expressed concern that students may still have to travel to Ipswich for their education.

Mr Rowe said: "I am pleased that they have done a partial U-turn, but I think they need to work more with the local community to find something that is better than what they have provided."