STUDENTS are unhappy about a proposed sixth form shake-up in Blaenau Gwent, writes GEMMA BALL.

The pupils at Brynmawr Foundation School say the choice has been taken away from them. They have strong views on where the best education facility would be for them.

Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council is proposing to develop education facilities at The Works, the former steelworks site in Ebbw Vale, backed by £84 million of Welsh Assembly funding.

One proposal means all secondary schools in the borough will lose their post 16 education.

Head teacher Mr James Retallick told parents at a public meeting on Monday night, "The local authority are planning to reorganise sixth form provision in Blaenau Gwent which will see Coleg Gwent run all post 16 education in the borough. At the time of the original proposal we told them, as a school, that we want to run The Works or we want the to leave us alone."

After a number of meetings with the authority the Executive Committee approved a report to establish an independent learning campus.

Mr Retallick added, "However, they then changed their minds. On June 7 I attended a meeting at 10am of the Executive committee, the chair of the board of governors.

"I sat in the public gallery where we heard, on the Welsh Assembly's advice, an independent college could not be formed. "The first the schools had heard of this was at 2pm the same day. They had not attempted to contact us about this beforehand."

Mr Retallick has now put in a Freedom of Information request to the authority and is still awaiting answers.

The meeting heard that Brynmawr Foundation School is the lead school in Blaenau Gwent for delivering post 16 education, attracting pupils from throughout the borough and beyond. Almost 200 applications for the sixth form have been received for September 2010, with 300 pupils already in the sixth form.

Mr Retallick added, "In effect, we have been told that Brynmawr is too popular. We are an 11 to 18-years school that is too attractive to others.

"As a Foundation School we do not have a catchment area. Pupils choose to come here, that choice will taken away and we as governors, do not believe that is right. A school cannot be held back simply because is it popular."

Brian Davies, vice chairman of governors said the new principle of Coleg Gwent would only guarantee The Works site to provide A Level education for three years.

Pupils, staff and parents fear it will only be possible to get an A Level education at Coleg Gwent's Cross Keys campus, with the The Works providing vocational subjects.

Year nine pupil Ben Jefferies told the meeting, "I think they are taking away the choice. Some pupils want to stay at the school. The funding is only secure for three years."

Pupils had an opportunity to attend The Works site and a workshop, but they said they "felt our intelligence was insulted."

Sixth form pupil Amy Long said, "Many of the questions we asked were not answered. All they were concerned about was the technology offered and the new grass. We were given a keyboard to write down our 'likes' and 'dislikes' about our school but we felt we were directed to being negative."

Another student Alice Clayton said, "Our grades speak for themselves. We want to be taught not lectured. This is the reason why we chose to come here because we have a good relationship with our teachers who bring out the best in us. We want the best for all the pupils in the school."

Parents have received consultation documents and a questionnaire. There is also a private company employed by Blaenau Gwent carrying out a street survey about the proposal.

A parent at the meeting said, "This questionnaire just involves ticking yes and no boxes - with a small space at the back for our views.

"Blaenau Gwent has brought in a private company who do not care about Blaenau Gwent."

Mr Davies said, "We are the most successful school in Blaenau Gwent and have appeared on The Times's top 400 schools list for the last four years. Parents send their children here to have a good education."

Another parent said, "It is deplorable that parents are not being given a chance to have a voice. The consultation is a selective process avoiding parents to avoid confrontation."

Mr Davies concluded, "We are not against better facilities for the borough, but it should be what is best for the children."

The Chief Executive of Blaenau Gwent along with the Leader and Deputy Leader and the executive member of education were all invited to meeting but no apologies were received at the time.

A statement from Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council said, "The council has embarked on formal consultation in relation to a number of exciting proposals that could transform education in Blaenau Gwent.

"We have agreed a strategy that involves a new and modern approach to consultation with pupils, parents, teachers, governors and local people. We are confident that our new approach will encourage open communication, break down barriers and improve the likelihood that the objectives of all involved are met."

It also said, "We have already had a positive response with several hundred people giving their views. Pupils at Ebbw Vale Comprehensive came out with a public statement of support for the plans for new school provision at The Works, the regeneration site on the former steelworks – 'We are grabbing it with both hands' was one of the comments from staff and pupils."

•Parents are now being urged to contact Education Minister, Leighton Andrews as well as local AMs, MPs and councillors to show their support for retaining post 16 education at Brynmawr Foundation School before the consultation period ends on August 14.

•Blaenau Gwent "We're listening" open days:

•Thursday, July 1 at Tredegar Library

•Monday, July 5 at Nantyglo Leisure Centre

•Tuesday, July 6 at Brynmawr Learning Action Centre

•Wednesday, July 7 at Ebbw Vale Learning Action Centre

•Thursday, July 8 at Tredegar library

•Monday, July 12 at Ebbw Vale Learning Action Centre

•Tuesday, July 13 at The Metropole Cultural and Conference Centre, Abertillery

•Wednesday, July 14 at The Metropole Cultural and Conference Centre, Abertillery.

Pupils, parents and other members of the community can also write to:

Alun Davies, Interim Director of Education and Leisure, Central Depot, Barleyfield Road Industrial Estate, Brynmawr, NP23 4YF.