A FLIXTON school is proposing to close its sixth form college - just seven years after it opened.

Wellacre Academy is consulting on plans to shut its co-educational sixth form in August 2017.

The governors at the school say the small numbers of students who enrol in the sixth form mean it is 'not financially sustainable'.

The sixth form was built to take up to 300 students, but last year just 24 students enrolled, and only 15 have put themselves down for places next September. Since opening it has never had more than 100 students.

If the closure proposal is agreed, these students will need to find places elsewhere. The Irlam Road boys' secondary school said they will be 'fully supported'.

The current sixth formers will be able to finish their studies before it closes in August next year.

The governors want to hear people's views during the consultation period, and stress that no decisions have yet been made.

But the consultation document spells out a bleak financial situation.

It said: "The Department for Education (DfE) recognises that sixth forms with less than 200 students are at risk of not being financially viable."

It added that: "As a result of the small numbers of students joining the sixth form, the academy has to subsidise the sixth form from other funding streams such as that for students in the main school.

"We have to recognize the needs and priorities of the majority of students at Wellacre.

"Wellacre Sixth Form is unable to provide the breadth of courses that larger establishments can offer, including a wide range of A Level subjects that students require.

"Consequently, the demand for places in the sixth form is limited, with most students in Year 11 choosing to go elsewhere for post 16 provision."

The consultation continues until June 30. A decision on whether to close the sixth form will be made within two months of the end of the consultation period.

For details on the consultation go to http://www.wellacre.org/