September 2008

Dear Parents/Staff/Governors

I am writing to advise you that the Governing Body of Perryfields High School has agreed to begin a period of initial consultation on its proposal to extend the age range of the school by including a sixth form from September 2009. This consultation process begins on 6 th September 2008 until 6 th October 2008 after which time the Governors will decide whether to proceed to the formal stage of consultation (publishing a statutory notice).

The Governors have responded to a number of issues and requests made to consider the development of sixth form provision for 180 pupils on the Perryfields’ site. The following areas have been considered before moving forward with this proposal:-

• Nationally pupils in present Year 7 2008 will be the first cohort to stay on in full time education until the age of 17/18. Therefore we believe further provision must be developed and in place by 2013.
• The14-19 agenda and in particular Vocational Diplomas are being introduced between 2008 and 2013. We believe our proposal will allow greater continuity of access to these programmes.
• Perryfields has successfully opened a Post 16 Centre as part of the South Sandwell Consortium. Our sixth form proposal will allow us to develop this relationship and increase opportunities available to Perryfields’ pupils on site.
• Perryfields has had its best ever year for both SATs and GCSEs and we believe we are now well placed to build on this success at Key Stage 5.
• Parents and pupils have continuously canvassed for sixth form development as an important requirement for the community it serves.
• Perryfields’ rebuild under BSF includes the development of Post 16 provision for 180 pupils and purpose built facilities will be in place between 2010-2012.

For these reasons it is clearly a natural next step to develop sixth form provision from September 2009 which can be expanded to include 180 places by 2012.

If you would like to find out further information about Perryfields’ sixth form proposal you can either

• respond by completing the attached form and return this to school by 26 th September 2008
  or
• attend a presentation at Perryfields on Monday 29th September at 6.00 pm in the school hall. Please contact Mrs Price (0121 421 7979) to inform us of your attendance so that we can accommodate all visitors.

Following this consultation period the Governors will consider any written responses or views expressed at our evening. A decision will then be made on whether to move forward to publish statutory notice by 20 th October.

Yours sincerely

C Gallant

C GALLANT (Mrs)

Chair of Governors

Download: Response form

Please return this form by 26 th September 2008 to the school office (Mrs C A Price)

(The information you provide on this form is subject to the provisions of the Data Protection Act 1968)