Sixth Form Consultation

Response to written consultation on the proposal to close Joyce Frankland Academy, Newport Sixth Form 

• There were 62 responses to the open consultation which lasted for a period of three weeks between 8th October and 29th October 2024 

• 49 of these responses were parents with pupils at JFAN 

• 4 of the responses were current staff members at JFAN 

• 5 responses were from current students 

• 3 responses were identified as “other” 

• 1 response was from another local education provider 

Out of the 62 responses, 18 responders agreed with the proposal to conduct a phased closure of Sixth Form. 44 responders disagreed with the proposal.  

The main reason for disagreement was the fact that JFAN is a smaller, personalised provision and therefore can cater for particular needs. Anglian Learning and JFAN believe that this is mitigated through the option of students being able to continue their studies at smaller sixth forms in the area, which are linked with schools. These include: 

• The Oaks College, Cambridge (Ofsted Good): an Anglian Learning academy which offers a wide range of a Levels, BTECs, Cambridge Technicals and Level 3 and Level 2 courses as well as extra-curricular activities (16.1 miles away) 

• Hockerill Anglo European College (Ofsted Outstanding): a local school which offers the International Baccalaureate (9.4 miles away with direct train routes) 

• The Bishop’s Storford High School (Ofsted Outstanding): offers a wide range of A-Levels and a selection of extra-curricular activities (13.1 miles away with a trainline) 

• The Hertfordshire and Essex High School and Science College (Ofsted Outstanding): offers a wide range of A-Levels and a selection of extra-curricular activities (9.7 miles away with a trainline) 

• Birchwood High School (Ofsted Good): offers a wide range of A-Levels and a selection of extra-curricular activities (9.3 miles away with a trainline) 

• Helena Romanes School (Ofsted Good): offers a wide range of A-Levels and BTEC qualifications (13.8 miles away) 

 Some of the other reasons were as follows: 

• Travel to another post-16 provision  

• The impact this might have on capacity at other Sixth Forms 

• The impact on current staffing (recruitment and retention) 

Responders like the school and wanted to stay at it 

These points were also raised and responded to in an Open Consultation Public Event on Tuesday 22nd October, of which 10 parents attended and 1 deputy head of sixth form from another local provider.  

In relation to the 18 responders who agreed with the proposal, the two main reasons for agreement were the impact on financial sustainability and the restriction on the Key Stage 3 and 4 curriculum and quality.   

Local authorities and other education providers have not raised any concerns about the proposal.