A BLACKBURN sixth form with just 16 students is set to close less than six years after it opened.

Our Lady and St John Catholic College said it had 'not been able to compete with other further education providers'.

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The sixth form, which never gained more than 76 students, will close on August 31 if Blackburn with Darwen Council ratifies the move later this week.

The North Road college had 300 places available across a number of vocational courses, but could not fill them despite 'intensive and vigorous marketing strategies' to bolster numbers.

A report to the council's executive board said: "Circumstances, such as similar courses being offered by other providers, have meant that Our Lady & St John’s Vocational Sixth Form has not been able to compete with other providers.

"Student numbers have been low and have decreased further in recent years. The highest number of students on roll in an academic year since opening has been 76 and currently there are only 16 students on roll.

"Removal of the sixth form would not result in a lack of access to courses for students in the authority. There are a sufficient number of alternative educational establishments available where young people will have the opportunity to follow their desired course of study and allow them to develop their skills in areas the school currently cannot offer."

Current year 12 and year 13 pupils would suffer 'no detrimental effect' as a result of the closure, the report added.

School and council bosses met last month to discuss the matter, and the recommendation for closure will go before councillors on Thursday night.

Patrick Murden, who took over as head teacher last September, said: "The sixth form building is a fully-functioning and integral part of the school and will continue to be used by all pupils.

"The closure was a fait accompli before my arrival and personally it's been a case of seeing through the process.

"We're very much focused on our links with St Mary's College, where many of the sixth form pupils have already moved."

Our Lady and St John Catholic College was founded in 1987 after the amalgamation of Notre Dame Grammar School and St John Rigby RC High School.

It has undergone a succession of interim inspections by Ofsted, the education watchdog, since it was rated inadequate and put in special measures last April.

The latest, in March, said the school was 'making reasonable progress towards the removal of special measures' and another full inspection is expected soon.