Size doesn't matter

When it comes to small sixth forms and colleges, a study has found that there is no correlation between size and value for money.

A study of eight local LSCs, conducted by Ben Johnson-Hill Associates, part of the Tribal Group, discredits recurring accusations that small school sixth forms are uneconomic and do not serve their students well.

The study also found no basis for the myth that schools raid their under-16 budgets to subsidise small sixth forms. In fact 'fluid funding' tends to work just as often in the other direction.

The findings are not surprising. Rather they are welcome recognition of what we at SHA already suspected - when it comes to value for money, there are small sixth forms and colleges at both ends of the spectrum.