BRYNMAWR Foundation School will continue to fight against the proposed closure of it's sixth form despite Blaenau Gwent Council's Executive Committee agreeing to a new learning facility at The Works, Ebbw Vale.

Head teacher Mr James Retallick said the executive's decision to support the £111 million education facility run by Coleg Gwent was not "unexpected."

He said, "We are disappointed but not surprised. It was not unexpected. We are not trying to jeopardise the learning facility but believe there should be a choice for pupils, either to attend school or college.

"We have a good success rate, if they could guarantee the success rate it would be different but they have no track record.

"The fight continues, there is no doubt about that. A parent action group submitted a 1,000 signature petition to the Welsh Assembly and Blaenau Gwent Council against the proposal."

The school's fight continues with a judicial review which will be heard in the High Court in January into whether the Welsh Assembly can legally delegate the power to the council to remove the sixth provision from the school due to its Foundation status which means it is run by its own governing body but funded by the state.

The school has also submitted an alternative proposal in the form of a post 16 academy including an alternative curriculum plan.

Parents and pupils are objecting the proposal saying the choice is being taking away from them.

Blaenau Gwent Council says its public consultation on the proposals was hugely successful and in two months raised over 2,600 responses.

The council's executive made its decision on the basis of the full and detailed report on the consultation that included all the responses – both for and against – from pupils, teachers, parents, governors and local people across Blaenau Gwent.

Leader of Blaenau Gwent Council, Councillor Des Hillman said, " These are bold and exciting proposals to change education, training and learning for the younger generation in Blaenau Gwent for the better.

"For us to succeed, it's vital that every one of our pupils and students has access to modern, 21st century education and training. We must make the most of this once in a lifetime opportunity to secure massive investment for new education facilities at The Works in Ebbw Vale."

Blaenau Gwent Council's Executive Member for Education, Councillor Steve Bard said, "Our objectives are ambitious - we want to transform education and training opportunities in Blaenau Gwent.

"We intend to raise standards of achievement, provide better opportunities, offer more choice and help more young people to stay in education post-16.

"We are confident we can be successful – if we take this chance to secure the funding we need to build state of the art education facilities at The Works."

The Executive Committee has decided that the proposals should be published as a statutory notice. There will be two months following publication for objections.

All the objections together with the council's observations will then be sent to the Welsh Assembly Government Ministers for determination.

The Welsh ministers will consider any proposal to close the Brynmawr Foundation School sixth form whether or not any objections are made. They will determine whether to approve the proposals, with or without modification or subject to the occurrence of an event or reject them.

The council has agreed under the terms of the Instrument of Delegation to be the recipient of any objections to any proposals made under s113A of the 2000 Act to close the Brynmawr Foundation School sixth form.

Coleg Gwent Principal Jim Bennett welcome the decision saying it, "Will provide a fantastic facility for all learners in Blaenau Gwent, and will help tackle some of the issues facing the community."