BRYNMAWR Foundation School's 200 pupil sixth form will close next year marking the end of long fight to keep the provision open.

Education Minister Leighton Andrews last week approved plans to close sixth forms at all Blaenau Gwent secondary schools with the provision to make way for post-16 education to based at a £111 million education facility run by Coleg Gwent at The Works in Ebbw Vale.

The plans were passed despite protests from pupils and petitions signed by parents sent to both Blaenau Gwent Council and the Welsh Assembly, as well as support from politicians and teaching unions.

Only last month the school was informed that a judicial review into the Welsh Assembly decision to delegate the power to Blaenau Gwent Council to remove the sixth provision, had not been successful.

In a statement issued by the school said, "The governing body, staff, pupils and parents will be shocked and dismayed by the letter received from the education minister, Mr Leighton Andrews, particularly since it was left until the last breath of the current Assembly.

"The decision to remove the sixth form from all three 11-18 schools in Blaenau Gwent will mean that choice at post 16 will be diminished.

"No transitional arrangements were announced covering the period from September 2011 to the start date of September 2012 and this will cause major concerns for all children and their families currently in years 9, 10 and 11 throughout the borough.

Parent, Mandy Howells who has campaigned against the closure said she is "devastated."

Mrs Howells' daughter Kelly is due to be among the first intake of students at The Works but is thinking of applying to King Henry VIII sixth form.

"Kelly doesn't want to go to a sixth form in a college," said Mrs Howells. "The reason why is that she attends Ebbw Vale college as one of her GCSE options but she doesn't like it there so she doesn't want to go to a college to do her A levels."

Mrs Howells attended a meeting at the school on Monday evening where Coleg Gwent Principle Jim Bennett was present.

"Blaenau Gwent's Director of Education was invited to attend but didn't," said Mrs Howells. "It is a kick in the teeth to the pupils as Blaenau Gwent are wanting the children to go to the new college in Ebbw Vale so someone should have been there from the council to talk to them. The most important part is children's education, it's not about the investment in Ebbw Vale.

"We have fought really hard to keep the sixth form open so this decision is really upsetting."