A NEW sixth form could jeopardise the future of a premier education establishment, educationalists have warned.

Nearly 90 per cent of 2,000 pupils, teachers, parents and members of the public in Nunthorpe agree with creating a sixth form centre in the town.

But the governor, principal and staff at Prior Pursglove College in Guisborough have argued the resultant loss of students coming to East Cleveland from Nunthorpe could cost the college more than £1m and cause serious difficulties.

Principal Alan Old from Redcar and Cleveland College, Redcar, and the Redcar and the Cleveland Local Learning Partnership have also objected.

The proposal has been made by Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council Local Education Authority, which is looking at ways of keeping higher education students in their local areas.

The authority distributed consultation forms around Nunthorpe Secondary School, Gillbrook Technology College and Eston Park School and to the general public.

More than 2,000 people completed the form with more than 90 per cent agreeing with the idea, saying it would mean less travel and might encourage more students to stay in education.

However, out of 14 letters received by the authority on the issue 13 were against the proposal, including seven from principals of existing colleges across Teesside.

Among arguments against the proposal were claims that a new college would work against a unified strategy of post-16-year-old education on Teesside and lead to a drop in numbers of sixth form students to existing colleges (a total of 220 16-year-olds left the Nunthorpe area to study elsewhere in 2001). It was also felt that it would lead to the duplication of specialist provision and cost more money to educate each student.

The largest number of students from Nunthorpe transfer to Prior Pursglove College in Guisborough. In a joint letter, the governors of the college and principal Stephen Whitehead said: "The loss of 250 Nunthorpe students would reduce college income by roughly £750,000. A reduction of 400 students, which adds those students who because of distance or location would be attracted to Nunthorpe, would result in a loss of £1,200,000. The cost of running the college would reduce proportionately.

"We question whether it is right to put into jeopardy the long history of well-supported learning made available to all parts of the borough at Prior Pursglove College for the uncertain benefits of a new untried school-based sixth form."

Councillors will discuss the consultation report on Tuesday, January 21.