Longcroft School and Sixth Form in Beverley is now waiting to hear whether the Government will allow it to admit pupils to Year 12. Further negotiations have been pursued to freeze new entrants for the next two years. One such proposal to close sixth form facilities and A-level teaching spaces has been made by the East Riding of Yorkshire Council (ERYC). This gambit has raised eyebrows of many, if not most, parents and students.
David Perry, the headteacher of the school, was keen to highlight its academic record. Longcroft is still going strong and is consistently ranked as one of the highest-performing schools in the area. He pointed out drawbacks of a “historic low” enrollment, with just 86 students in this year’s Year 11. This figure has raised real concerns surrounding the long-term viability of the sixth form program.
Rebecca Curley, like many parents, was alarmed at this announcement and decided to start a campaign herself. She said she clamped down after a warning email from Longcroft School over the possible expulsion. She expressed her frustration, stating, “There was no indication or anything. It just seems to have really blindsided me.” Curley told us that her daughter was due to start the sixth form. Now, with their school’s uncertain future having them more than a little on edge,
David Perry made a warm invitation to the community. He reiterated that Longcroft School would work with the local authority to find ’sustainable solutions, which are practical and feasible’. He noted, “This strong trajectory does sit alongside a smaller Year 11 cohort this year, shaped by factors already outlined in our consultation.”
The council’s proposal has shocked some local officials. Liberal Democrat councillor Tony Henderson, who represents the Minster and Woodmansey ward, described the prospect as a total shock. Henderson expressed his commitment to supporting the sixth form provision, stating, “I fully support a sixth form provision and will work with Longcroft School and ERYC to try and ensure that one is still being delivered the next academic year and one after.”
Negotiations continue between Longcroft School, ERYC, and the Department for Education. Perry underscored that optimizing how all available space on the school site is utilized will help best serve students. He said, “A consultation on a temporary pause to sixth form recruitment has been initiated, and it is not a decision taken lightly.” And he urged that this process be a true reflection of their mutual priorities for young people.
Curley voiced her concerns about the implications for students: “Imagine as a child not knowing what your future is going to hold for a little while. That unknown is the scary part.” She claimed that cuts would need to be answered with forward-looking actions to protect education options for area children. “I don’t think you can sit back and let it happen if there’s a chance you can make a change,” she remarked.
