College sixth form faces fight for survival

A RALLYING call has been made to find ways of keeping Okehampton College’s sixth form open as it faces a funding crisis due to a drop in student numbers.

- ALISON STEPHENSON

Closing post-16 education from 2027 is one option for the college which has suffered a falling year 12 intake for the last couple of years and only has 12 students signed up for September from a cohort of 200.

Numbers have dropped in part because of the reinstatement of the rail service between Okehampton and Exeter, making it easier for students to attend the city college, which offers a broader range of A-levels.

But parents, students and councillors who attended a drop in session at the college this week spoke passionately about the pastoral care and quality of teaching at the sixth form, which one former pupil called the jewel in the crown of the school.