Under-pressure academy trust forced by minister to reverse its decision to close school sixth form

The 24-school academy chain has had its proposed closure of Nether Stowe School’s sixth form in Lichfield blocked by the government, with ministers concerned about local options for students.

A major multi-academy trust, which has been under severe pressure from the government over its finances, has been hit by another setback after a minister vetoed its plans to close a school sixth form.

The Arthur Terry Learning Partnership (ATLP) has had its bid to completely close the sixth form at Nether Stowe School in Lichfield, Staffordshire, blocked by the schools minister, Georgia Gould, over concerns that students would be left with limited post-16 options locally.

The move comes despite ATLP having already closed Nether Stowe’s sixth form to incoming year 12 students this term – its year 13 are still at the school - in advance of having permission from the Department for Education to completely close post-16 provision. It would appear to mean that Nether Stowe must now admit a new year 12 from this coming September – although the trust seemed not to be making a fully definitive statement on this in a letter to parents on Friday.

Ms Gould’s decision comes after concerns were raised by Dave Robertson, the local Labour MP and a former Nether Stowe student, who, speaking at a fringe meeting at the party’s conference in September, had linked the move to the financial implications of ATLP’s decision to buy iPADs for 11,000 pupils and staff.