Bexley Catholic college cannot fill classrooms (From News Shopper)

St Luke's college, Sidcup, considering merger

9:28am Thursday 23rd October 2008 in News

BEXLEY’S Catholic sixth form college is considering a merger because of a lack of pupils.

St Luke’s in Chislehurst Road, Sidcup, which opened in 2004, has only just over half the number of pupils it was hoping for.

Now it has launched a public consultation on plans to merge with Christ the King, another Catholic sixth form college in Lewisham.

It is hoped the partnership will secure the financial future of the college and provide increased educational opportunities for students.

St Luke’s had a controversial beginning.

It was created to take students from the borough’s two Catholic secondary schools — St Catherine’s and St Columba’s, both based in Bexleyheath.

A third Catholic secondary school, St Mary and St Joseph’s, was closed to make way for the new college, amid fierce opposition from some parents.

It was also hoped St Luke’s would attract other non-Catholic students.

Admissions in 2004 and 2005 were on target, but the following year the college and its then principal, Maria Williams, attracted much public criticism.

Mrs Williams was accused by staff, students and parents of paying too much attention to religion and not enough to education.

The college was then issued with a Notice to Improve by Ofsted, A Level results were disappointing and Mrs Williams resigned.

Under acting head Jim Flannery the college has made improvements and results have risen.

But the governors point to an inevitable time lag between improving results and a subsequent rise in pupil numbers.

Mr Flannery said: “St Luke’s is coming out of a challenging period.

“We now need to look to a secure financial future for the college.”

The plan is to relaunch the 16 to 19 college in September next year as Christ the King College, Bexley, with a planned intake of 650 pupils, managed by the parent Lewisham college.

Principal of the Lewisham college Jane Overbury said: “We plan to build on the achievements of St Luke’s and very much look forward to developing high-quality learning opportunities for young people in Bexley.”

Pupils at St Catherine’s and St Columba’s would still get first priority for admissions.

A consultation document is available from the website st-lukes-college.co.uk Three public meetings are also planned: on November 3 at St Luke’s; November 11 at St Columba’s in Halcot Avenue and on November 17 at St Catherine’s in Watling Street, all at 7.30pm.

The closing date for comments is December 1.