A WATLINGTON school is aiming to create a sixth form because it believes pupils are “unfairly disadvantaged” by having to travel elsewhere in the county.

Icknield Community College, in Love Lane, at present takes pupils up to Year 11. Those wanting to continue to post-16 education have to travel up to 20 miles.

The school hopes to offer 20 A-Level courses, including English Literature, French, Chemistry and Music.

If approved, the sixth form would accept pupils for the start of the 2015 academic year.

By 2018/19 it would aim to have 785 pupils.

Next year, the school will have 615 pupils up to the age of 16.

In a statement, the school said: “We believe the students are disadvantaged by this arrangement. Through an absence of immediate local choice for their post-16 education, families are forced to face significant, and growing, transport costs.

“Some students suffer from long, early morning journeys impacting on their quality of life. There are also significant environmental costs resulting from these extra journeys.”

It is the second secondary school in the county to bid to create a sixth form. Earlier this year Carterton Community College received positive responses to its plans and a final decision is due to be made on July 14.

See the Icknield consultation at consultations.

oxfordshire.gov.uk/consult.ti/IcknieldCC

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