A VALLEYS head teacher says local education chiefs are discriminating against English-speaking secondary schools - as they plan to close his sixth form.

Bill Beales, head teacher of Cwmcarn Foundation School, is furious at Caerphilly council's plans to close the sixth form as part of post-16 education reform.

The council wants to close all secondary school sixth forms in the borough - apart from the one at the Welsh-medium Ysgol Gyfun Cwm Rhymni in Fleur de Lys - under its regeneration strategy.

They believe transferring A-level teaching to further education colleges such as Cross Keys campus of Coleg Gwent is essential.

The council has cited the restructuring in ELWa's funding regime as one reason for change, as they say it will make sixth forms with fewer than 200 pupils a financial burden.

The council also plans to close two comprehensive schools, Bedwellty and St Ilan's, in Caerphilly, in the reorganisation.

But Mr Beales told the Argus: "The council is quite ready to get rid of all sixth forms, but they are going to leave the sixth form at Ysgol Gyfun Cwm Rhymni alone.

"Surely this is discrimination? What about the 11-18 English schools? There is no satisfactory answer to it and people are not going to swallow it.

"If the council are going to make a decision like this, then they are going to leave themselves open to such a question."

He added: "If the local authority wants pupils to stay on in post-16 education you have to improve Key Stage 3 and 4 results.

"Our results are well above the national average, but as a whole the authority is languishing at the bottom of the league tables.

"The council can make recommendations until they are blue in the face, but ultimately it is the Assembly's decision if the sixth form is to be closed because we are a foundation school."

Parent-governor Colin Eaton, who has two daughters in the sixth form, said: "There is a very strong feeling in the local community that if you have a success you shouldn't kick it down. We feel we are being penalised for being the best school in the borough."

A spokesman for Caerphilly council said: "We are keen to consult as many interested parties as possible and want to ensure that people have their say."