STUDENTS say they have been "abandoned" after their school decided to temporarily suspend sixth form study from next year.

The decision to suspend admissions for one year at Kingsway Academy, in Moreton, 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.

In light of the news, angry parents contacted the Globe to air their frustrations at the school, while Year 11 students set up a petition against the decision.

Jordan Oldham, who is currently in Year 11 and planned to attend Kingsway's sixth form next year, said many 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 in this decision.

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

"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."

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".

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."

Her partner Paddy Cleary added: "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."

Adrian Whitely, headteacher at the Mosslands School, said students and parents need not fear as sixth form places are available elsewhere in the borough.

He said: "For several years, there has been a successful collaborative established between Wallasey School and the Mosslands School and any student who has expressed an interest in sixth form provision at the Wallasey School will be welcomed into the sixth form at Mosslands, and we will ensure that our curriculum will be adapted to meet their needs.

"As many of the courses on offer where already established between both schools, this should cause very little disruption and we would be happy to discuss any concerns you may have at this stage."

Kathryn Podmore, principal of the Sixth Form College in Birkenhead, said: "It is regrettable that Kingsway Academy has chosen to suspend admissions to its sixth form for September 2015. Funding of post-16 education has been substantially reduced in recent years and this has particularly impacted small sixth forms.  

“Students join The Sixth Form College in Birkenhead from schools across Wirral and we support them to exceed expectations and achieve higher grades than were predicted when they join us. 

"We are working closely with the school and will be hosting a special open evening for Kingsway students on Tuesday, February  3 at 6.30pm – during which they can see our outstanding facilities and meet our specialist staff.

"The college has a strong mission statement - ‘to provide high quality education for all’ and we look forward to welcoming Kingsway students to our college and fully supporting them in this next, crucial stage of their education.”

A petition has been set up by students against the decision. To sign it, visit http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/save-the-kingsway-academy-sixth-form