The only sixth form college in Royston will no longer provide courses at its designated centre in the town from 2018/2019.

The Royston Schools Academy Trust has today announced plans for an “alliance” with Baldock’s Knights Templar School, which will mean A-levels will be delivered there instead of Meridian Sixth Form College or the proposed new ‘through school’ – which would come into being if the merger between Roysia and Greneway middle schools and Meridian upper school goes ahead.

The consultation period for the merger proposals – which would see the new school opened at the Meridian and Greneway site – ends tomorrow.

The sixth form provision plans are confirmed to go ahead however, and will see A-levels and other courses provided eight miles away at Knights Templar.

RSAT has said certain courses will still be delivered in other venues in Royston under the umbrella of the new RSAT Sixth Form Centre.

These are the BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma Performing Arts (Dance) which would be delivered at Stage Right Studios, and CTEC Extended Diploma Sport & Physical Activity, which would be held in partnership with Royston Town Football Club.

A spokeswoman for the trust said: “RSAT is fully committed to providing existing sixth form students with high quality teaching and resources to attain their required grades at A-level and secure leading universities, apprenticeships or employment. Current courses will be completed at the upper school site on Garden Walk in Royston.

“A-level courses will be delivered at the Knights Templar Sixth Form Centre in Baldock, where a wide range of courses are on offer. Through this alliance, transport to Baldock will be funded for students.

“Year 11 students have had an opportunity to attend the Sixth Form Open Evening at Knights Templar and a ‘Sixth Form Taster Day’ is planned for Royston students in January, with an extended application period on offer.”

“Reaching this decision has not been easy or taken lightly. Closing the Sixth Form completely was explored but we believe that this plan allows an alternative: a sixth form alliance.”

The trust admits it has experienced significant funding pressures at all levels but particularly around cost effective delivery of post-16 education.

It said the funding for post-16 students has gradually declined and this has had particular impact on small sixth forms.