KINGSWAY Academy is “temporarily” suspending sixth form study from next year, the school has confirmed.

The decision to suspend admissions for one year has been made following a review to ensure the “correct allocation of resources” during the school’s transition to academy status.

Current Year 12 students will still be able to complete their second year of sixth form study from September 2015.

But current Year 11 students will not have the option of staying on at the school - formerly known as Wallasey School - which held its sixth form opening evening in November.

Staff at the Birket Avenue school today announced the temporary suspension of admissions which they say will “allow a better focus of resources” ahead of a “significant programme of investment” from the Northern Schools Trust, who sponsor the school.

Principal Amanda Cawood said: “Despite strong applications for our Year 12 for September 2015, we have made the difficult decision to temporarily suspend admissions until September 2016.

“Our number one priority is the success of our students. This temporary reduction will allow us to turn our full focus to improving the education opportunities for students aged 11-16 and ensure we have the best outcomes for students joining us now and in September 2016.

“In September 2016, we will launch a new and improved academic and vocational curriculum for post-16 students offering more direct routes into employment for every student.”

“Staff are working hard to support current Year 11 students and their parents in making applications to other local good and outstanding sixth form providers”.

In light of the news, angry parents have contacted the Globe to air their frustrations at the school.

Leigh Ingram, whose 16-year-old son Owen Edwards is currently in Year 11 and was planning to attend the sixth form next year, said: "It's like they are giving up on the whole year.

“We have already been to the open evening and already decided Owen was going to the sixth form.

“We’ve now had to go to Wirral Met and had to ring Birkenhead Sixth Form. Half of the schools and colleges have already had their opening evenings."

Leigh's partner Paddy Cleary added: "You've got to have a selfish attitude but also a collective attitude. We have got to try and get Owen in somewhere now before everybody else gets on that rung.

"You have got to stay in full time education now, but where are they supposed to go when all the other schools are full?

"People on that estate, to get their children to Birkenhead and all over the place, it's the children that are going to suffer."

Leigh added: "We wanted Owen to be in that environment just for a little while longer because there aren't many opportunities out there for him. Now we have got to try and get him into a college and I personally don't think he's quite mature enough for that.

“Where are they all the students meant to go? What happens if there are autistic children that can’t cope with change?"

Year 11 student Jordan Oldham said many of Kingsway's students had spent the afternoon in tears after hearing the news.

He told the Globe: "It's almost like they have got no concern for us, they have disregarded us us in this decision.

"We feel abandoned as an entire year, there's no planning about this and the timing is horrible."

Jordan, who was planning on staying on at Kingsway, said had students been told about the decision earlier, things would not have been as bad.

He added: "There were lots of people at the open evening in November, there was enough interest.

"The teachers told us to stay on as we trust them and they care about us, I know it's not their fault, it's the people higher up.

"The year above me, they have the chance to stay on, they have the opportunity and the year below me will, but we don't, our year will just be forgotten."

Asked what he planned to do now, Jordan said: "There's not much we really can do.

"One of my friends had a panic attack, it was like their world had crumbled around them, they had it all planned.

"A lot of my friends have been spending the afternoon crying."

Jordan added: "I wouldn't have had to say goodbye to people but now I have to say goodbye to friends who I may never see again - it's just horrible."

A petition has been set up by students. To sign it, click here. 

Does your son or daughter attend Kingsway Academy? Were they thinking of attending the sixth form next year? Call reporter Emma Rigby on 0151 649 4018.