Wrexham council votes against closure of sixth forms
Wrexham council has voted to maintain school-based sixth forms, despite a recommendation to close them.
Its executive board considered four options, including closing two English-language sixth forms at the Maelor School, Penley, and Ysgol Rhiwabon.
The recommended option was full tertiary provision (16-18-year-olds) and to "re-designate schools with sixth forms as 11-16 schools".
Instead, the board voted for a "sixth form consortium" with Yale College.
In December 2008, the executive board agreed to make proposals for post-16 education in line with the Welsh Assembly Government's policy.
It commissioned a feasibility study which identified four main options.
Members chose to "maintain sixth forms in the existing 11-18 schools with greatly expanded collaboration between the schools and between the schools and Yale College.
"The consortium partners would continue to deliver viable courses in-house and become specialist centres for the delivery of collaborative provision."
A report discussed on Tuesday had said tertiary education "provides the most benefits to learners" as well as meeting financial targets.
It recommended that the board selected full tertiary provision as its preferred option to submit to the assembly government.
The board made its decision after a governor and student from each school addressed the meeting.
John Davies, chief learning and achievement officer for Wrexham council, said there would be a "full consultation involving all interested parties" following the assembly government's decision.
A separate strategy is being developed for post-16 Welsh medium education, currently provided by Ysgol Morgan Llwyd.