A £6.7MILLION sixth form centre which was opened just five years ago looks set to close.

Bosses at Our Lady and St John Catholic College, in Blackburn, said it was ‘with regret’ it had launched a consultation into shutting the vocational provision.

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The centre, which has potential to cater for 150 students, only has 19 on the roll.

Community leaders have said they are saddened by the news, especially as the Learning and Skills Council funded project was described as unique and innovative when it was unveiled.

The announcement came as Ofsted published an interim report on the main school, which was told in April it was ‘inadequate’, telling school leaders it was not making enough progress towards the removal of special measures.

Headteacher Patrick Murden, who took over the reigns at the North Road school in September, said there had been problems with attracting students to the sixth form.

He said: “It became apparent there was no real recruitment.

“We now want to consult with stakeholders about the validity of it and to explore its viability.

“It is a unique provision centred on supporting vulnerable young adults into further education. It has become a bespoke provision.

“There is not a natural progression for students at Our Lady and St John to study there and that might have been its downfall. The purpose it was built for is not the way it is currently functioning.

“There had been a recognition for some time that the sixth form was not operating as it was meant to operate.

“If it does close, it will remain a part of the school going forward.”

Mr Murden said the sixth form centre competed with other colleges including St Mary’s and Blackburn College for students.

He said the vision for the building in the future was to make it an ‘academic hothouse’ for year 11 pupils, as well as a community meeting place.

It currently houses facilities for all the school’s pupils for lessons in IT, art, food technology and media studies. It also has a radio station and restaurant.

The proposal will not affect current sixth form students, who are all on one-year courses and will have graduated by the time the facility is shut.

The project was funded by the Learning and Skills Council, which no longer exists, after the Department for Children, Schools and Families, approached the school about opening a sixth form in recognition of its steady progress.

A spokesman for the Department for Education said: “We are aware of the consultation, but as it is ongoing, we do not have any further comment to make at this stage.”

Jack Straw, MP for Blackburn, said he was disappointed by news of the potential closure.

He said: “I think it is sad for the school because they have very good facilities. I hope very much they can find alternative uses for those facilities.”

Coun Dave Harling, Blackburn with Darwen Council’s executive member for education and schools, said: “This is an ongoing consultation and no decision has been made yet. The building is, and will continue to be, part of the school as a whole and we will continue to work with and support all staff and pupils at Our Lady and St John.”

The latest interim Ofsted inspection criticised Our Lady and St John for not having made enough progress since it was put into special measures.

Inspector Allan Tor said in a report: “The issues raised at the previous inspection about teaching remain. There has been little progress since February.

“The main improvements have taken place since September.”

The inspector said his biggest teaching concerns were in maths, geography and modern foreign languages.

However, Mr Tor also noted there had been ‘rapid improvement’ in students’ behaviour. In February concerns were raised about racism and a lack of ‘harmony within the school community’.

He said: “There is a harmonious atmosphere with different genders mixing well together in lessons and around school as well as students from different backgrounds.”

Mr Murden said he still hoped the school would be out of special measures by autumn 2015 and be outstanding within three years.

He said: “I am loving it here and I feel honoured and privileged to lead the school.

“It is a fantastic school community with a great depth of pride.”