Union condemns Rhyl six form merger plans

Jun 25 2008 by David Rutland, Rhyl Visitor

A CONTROVERSIAL plan to merge sixth forms in Rhyl could lead to extensive job losses and cash problems, according to union chiefs.

Last week, the Visitor revealed how Blessed Edward Jones High School had pulled out of a scheme to join with Rhyl High School and Coleg Llandrillo to make a super sixth form, known only as The Rhyl Sixth.

Rhyl High headmaster Mark Edwards plans to push ahead with the proposals and merge with Coleg Llandrillo.

However, he has now come in for criticism from the country’s biggest union – The National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers.

Union organiser Rex Phillips told the Visitor: “I would wish to make it clear that the NASUWT members who teach at Rhyl High School do not support the proposal to close the sixth form.

“Mr Edwards certainly does not speak for the 44 NASUWT members out of the 70-strong staff at Rhyl High. Our members are very annoyed about this.

“Denbighshire has a problem with being a failing authority and wants to wash its hands of education in Rhyl. Mark Edwards hopes that collaboration will allow Rhyl High School teachers to carry on, but there has been no guarantee of that.

“And if the school loses the funding for its sixth form there’s likely to be a knock-on effect further down the school with considerable redundancies and a reduction in staff complement.

“Post-16 education in the Rhyl area would be handed to an unelected, undemocratically accountable, autonomous institution.”

Plans were put forward earlier this year to close the sixth forms at Rhyl High School and Blessed Edward Jones and create a flagship centre on the town’s Coleg Llandrillo site. The facility would deliver A-levels, Welsh and International Baccalaureates and a range of vocational courses.

Consultation on the future of the sixth forms is due to end next month.

Read more about Denbighshire’s education system, and reported improvements, on page 20.