Awaiting the decision on post-16 education

The Learning and Skills Council and East Sussex County Council's proposals to replace school sixth forms with four colleges have been with education minister Ruth Kelly since January.

But a spokesman from the LSC said the decision could be this week.

He said: "We are expecting something before we break up for the summer holidays. But in terms of what they are going to say, we have no idea."

The 53 million plans are to close school sixth forms in Hastings, Bexhill and Rother and replace them with a family of four colleges to include Hastings College, Bexhill College and a new college in Hastings town centre.

Plans for the fourth college, to be built at Claverham in Battle, were resubmitted to Rother District Council planning board last month.

On Tuesday a group of Bexhill College students gathered in Hastings to share their concerns for their education, led by the youth MP for Hastings and Rother, Joe Ammoun, who this week sent his own letter to Ruth Kelly.

The five students voiced concerns over traffic and travelling issues, a lack of choice over available courses and a fear the plans will prove to be a waste of money with no real improvements to post-16 education in the area.

Joe, 16, said: "People are not against change but they feel this change is not heading in the right direction. They can't see how these plans fit in with the government programme for greater choice.

'We want this 53 million to be put into the institutions that exist to help them deliver the courses and we want the transport network improved, but we don't want the money put into new buildings that will not improve the situation.

'We want education to be more accessible to students. Whatever Ruth Kelly's decision, I don't think it is going to be as clear cut as some people think."

Alex Clifford, 17, said: "Put the money into existing facilities. They have not fully considered the implications of the proposals.

'Bexhill is a fantastic college but if the proposals go through it will make it harder for us to do the courses of our choice."

James Streeter, 17, does not receive any education maintenance allowance and already knows university will not be a possibility for financial reasons. With added expenses travelling between the four proposed colleges he fears his sixth form education may also suffer.

He said: "There is no transport in place that would be able to cope with the traffic moving between the sites. When Hastings and Rother councils approved these plans they did so on the condition the transport links would be looked at."

David Troubridge, 16, said: "I don't think the proposals are a good idea at all. The money could go elsewhere and make what we have better. A lot of students choose a broad range of subjects to keep their options at university open and the new system will make that harder if not impossible."

Daniel Cruttenden, 16, said: "Getting from one college to another could take a long time and disrupt the timetable, not just for the students but the staff as well.

'Other places have tried this before and a significant number have failed to produce."