A review is to be held into the future of post 16 education in Ceredigion.

At its meeting on Tuesday, 11 January, Ceredigion County Council’s cabinet was being asked to allow officers to “establish a brief and conduct a review of post 16 education” to be brought back to senior councillors.

Cllr Keith Evans highlighted the need for the details to also go to scrutiny committee, which was agreed by all members.

A report presented to the meeting indicated that a recent school service measures report had recorded 51 of 199 available A-level courses in sixth forms and colleges had fewer than five pupils.

Senior councillors were told that it is predicted that by January 2024 there will be around 776 year 12 and 13 pupils, an increase from 701 in 2020, and that “five out of the six Ceredigion sixth forms are likely to have fewer than 150 pupils.”

This is the level the Audit Commission has suggested makes a sixth form viable.

Ceredigion County Council last reviewed its education for over 16-year-olds in 2007-8, and current arrangements must also consider the “driving the post-16 transition agenda nationally.”

Cllr Catrin Miles, Cabinet Member with responsibilty for Schools, Lifelong Learning and Skills, Support and Intervention, said: “It is timely to conduct a review of post-16 provision to gather facts and views on what works and what can be developed.”

Officers will go away and undertake a review of sixth form provision in the county, with their findings being discussed at a future date.

Ceredigion County Council has also agreed to work closely with neighbouring Powys when it comes to schooling.

A number of local authorities in Wales have left the ERW and Ceredigion’s plan is to work with Powys County Council as the Mid Wales Education Partnership and agreed ways of working have been established.

It already works on a number of other partnerships with the local authority linked to the Mid Wales Growth Deal and economic regeneration as well as new Corporate Joint Committees (CJC) to be established overseeing strategic planning, transport and economic well-being.

The aim is to “ensure equity of provision for schools in Powys and Ceredigion,” according to a report put before councillors.

“Although education isn’t a policy area that must be governed via a CJC, Ceredigion shares many similarities and challenges with Powys, particularly those related to rurality. It is therefore natural that Ceredigion and Powys continue to work closely on the education agenda,” the report added.

Collaboration focus is currently on leadership development, deprivation and rural poverty, Curriculum for Wales, improving pedagogy and other areas linked to early teaching careers.