STUDENTS planning to attend Stanford and Corringham Sixth Form Centre for the first time in September have been shocked by news the college's planned new operators have pulled the plug on new admissions and there be no new intake this year.

The Ortu Sixth Form Centre, based on the Gable Hall campus on Southend Road in Corringham had showcased its facilities through open evenings and publicity and was expected to take studnts, subject to GCSE results, in the new academic year.

It is currently operated by the Ortu Federation which also runs Gable Hall, Hassenbrook Academy and Corringham Primary School.

Ortu is due to be absorbed into the Hackney-based Mossbourne Federation following intervention by the Department for Education (DfE) over failures in the running of all three schools and the sixth form centre. A major intervention by the DfE happened in September 2022 when the then head of Ortu, Dr Sophina Asong, was suspended. Days later highly-respected former CEO of the Gateway Learning Community in Tilbury and Chadwell St Mary, Kevin Sadler, was appointed as interim CEO to see the Trust through transition.

The transition to a new Trust has been much-delayed and at various points it was expected that the Gateway Learning Community would take over, but the DfE would not allow it. The Harris Federation Schools Trust were then set to take over, but pulled out when they examined the financial credentials of Ortu.

A further search for a new Trust resulted in the DfE appointing Mossbourne, who became engaged in the running of local schools last year, when CEO, Peter Hughes, spent several days briefing parents at all the venues.

Mossbourne Federation is a network of four academies (two primaries, two secondaries) and one Sixth Form in Hackney.

It is just a few weeks since the Sixth Form, which has an exemplary pass rate, was celebrating the outgoing Year 13's A-Level successes.

Mossbourne was due to take over in March this year – but the formal transition was delayed as the Turst continued its due diligence process.

It is now expected to take place in the autumn term later this year.

Mossbourne have now made the decision that it cannot support a new intake at the Sixth Form centre, though current students in year 13 will be allowed to complete their courses.

A joint statement from Mossbourne and Ortu described the situation as 'a temporary pause' and says: "Unfortunately, protracted discussions with the DfE regarding the transfer process of Ortu schools into the Mossbourne Federation has led to this decision.

"This is because we have been unable to recruit sufficient high calibre teaching staff to join the high quality staff already at the Academy to the level needed to deliver an outstanding curriculum for both lower school students and an incoming Year 12 cohort.

"Our absolute priority is to ensure we provide an excellent education to every student across our Federation and we have acted as swiftly as possible to make this difficult decision. We are actively supporting affected students, parents and carers to secure appropriate post-16 placements elsewhere.

"Staff and resources currently available at our sister post-16 provision (Mossbourne Community Academy) will be dedicated to current Ortu students to ensure they receive the high-quality education they deserve. 

"As we take operational control, our immediate priority will be to ensure that the Ortu Sixth Form has the highest calibre of teaching and support staff in place for the 2025/2026 academic year to work alongside our skilled existing sixth form colleagues. This will guarantee that future students have access to Mossbourne Federation's excellent academic curriculum, unrivalled co-curricular opportunities and outstanding career pathways.

"We do not make this decision lightly and our priority is always to deliver the highest standard of learning to adequately prepare students for the future. We thank our staff, parents and students for their understanding as we navigate this together."