UPDATED: For the last five years, The Isle of Wight College has developed its A-level Centre to provide high quality A-level courses for the Island’s 16 to 19-year-olds, but from September the Isle of Wight College will cease to offer A-Level courses to new students.
This year’s results have been excellent with a 99% pass rate in 2014/15, however, informed by the recent review of the island’s secondary school provision, population forecasts for the island and new government policies for the further development of vocational education and apprenticeships, the Isle of Wight College has made the decision to cease recruitment to A-levels from September 2015.
Letters have been sent to students this week informing them that they will no longer be able to start studies at the College in less than three weeks time, a move that has been blasted by some parents as the news comes just a day before GCSE results are announced.
The College say the decision will reduce the level of duplication of A-level courses locally, allowing other providers to offer the wide range of subjects needed to guarantee effective and successful progression for their students. The College will now focus its development on vocational courses, including A-level equivalents, thus providing the island’s 16-19 year old students with a greater choice of courses and routes to employment or university.
Chair of Governors, Peter Conway, explained the decision:
“The College established its 6th Form over five years ago. Since then, more island schools are offering A-levels and we believe the extent of A-level provision across the island is more than sufficient to meet all student needs. We are immensely proud of the College’s A-level students’ achievements, but the Board has to look to the future.
“The days when academic qualifications were the only route to good jobs and university are past. Our new investments in STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) and state-of-the-art Centre of Excellence for Composites, Marine and Advanced Manufacture at Whippingham, provide immensely valuable and exciting opportunities for College students.
“Working closely with key industries and employers, the College’s courses will continue to provide opportunities for students at all levels, helping them to prepare for work or further study at university or elsewhere”.
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UPDATED @ 13:42 – Commenting on the news, Cllr Chris Whitehouse has today said:
“This has nothing to do with the Government, as some commentators have wrongly claimed. It is about a failure to address the surplus 6th form provision on the Island during and at the outcome of the recent consultation by the Isle of Wight Council.
“What is a disgrace is for the Governors not to have given more warning of what could be seen coming a mile away. I’ve personally be warning about it for 2 years. I feel for the students whose plans will now be in turmoil. Hopefully, though, they could still secure places at Christ the King (for those for whom it is appropriate) and Nodehill, the Island Innovation Sixth Form.”
