Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department plans to take steps to support the provision of sixth form education in Spelthorne constituency.

The department is committed to improving access to educational opportunities for all young people by ensuring that they can access a quality educational offer that adds value and helps them to achieve their long term career aspirations and goals.

There are six state-funded mainstream secondary schools in the Spelthorne constituency area, two of which have sixth forms: St Paul’s Catholic College (Ascension Catholic Academy Trust) and The Bishop Wand Church of England School (Instanter Learning Trust). St Paul’s is rated Outstanding by Ofsted, with a high performing sixth form, and Bishop Wand is rated Good. Spelthorne residents also attend Salesian School, another Ofsted rated Outstanding school, in neighbouring Runnymede.

While these schools account for most of Spelthorne’s 16-18 year-olds, significant numbers also attend nearby further education colleges: Strode’s College in Egham (rated Good by Ofsted) and Esher Sixth Form College (rated Outstanding by Ofsted). Smaller numbers travel to Woking College and Harrow, Richmond & Uxbridge College.

In terms of the oversight of local provision, local authorities have a statutory duty to identify and track the participation of 16 and 17 year-olds in education. This includes supporting those who are not participating to do so and making sure that there is sufficient and suitable education and training provision to meet their needs. If a local authority identifies a need for additional provision, they can negotiate with existing providers to expand their provision. Where that provider is an academy, the academy trust can then make a ‘significant change’ request for the department to consider.

The local authority can also approach the department to submit a case to address a gap in post-16 provision for young people. The department has not received such a request from Surrey County Council, nor any significant change requests from Spelthorne schools.