Consultations Begin on Plans to Close Two Nottinghamshire Sixth Forms

Consultations are currently in progress regarding proposals to close two sixth forms in Nottinghamshire, which have been described as “unsustainable.” An academy trust aims to discontinue its post-16 provision at both The Dukeries Academy in Ollerton and Sutton Community Academy in Sutton-in-Ashfield. The trust indicated that these proposals were prompted by low student numbers. Separate consultation periods commenced on Monday and are scheduled to conclude on 13 January. Plans to cease the provision at The Dukeries Academy, effective once the current Year 13 students have completed their courses, were initially revealed in June. After 1 September 2025, the school will exclusively serve pupils aged 11 to 16. For the sixth form at Sutton Community Academy, the proposal is to shut it down a year later, after the current Year 12 students have progressed through to the end of Year 13. No new students would be enrolled into this sixth form in September 2025. Ged Rae, executive principal at Academy Transformation Trust, stated: “Student numbers in The Dukeries Academy and Sutton Community Academy sixth forms have been unsustainably low for some time.” He added: “The closure of the sixth forms will provide the financial stability needed to maintain and enhance our current 11-16 provision.” The governing board of The Dukeries Academy criticized the decision to close its sixth-form in June, labeling it “unacceptable” and claiming it had been made without consultation.