The head teacher of Ilkley Grammar School has defended a decision to increase the requirements for sixth-form education.

Gillian James said it was not a decision the school wanted to make but that more pupils and lack of space meant the school had reached breaking point.

The comments follow letters from some Ilkley Gazette readers criticising the increase in entry requirements to five grade Bs at GCSE.

Mrs James said the school was committed to serving students in the Wharfe Valley, but there was not enough space on the cramped Cowpasture Road site.

Last year the school was forced to take extra pupils after children from priority one areas missed out on places. Plans for a new ‘superschool’ were ditched by the Coalition Government last year.

“If our BSF new-build had become a reality in 2013, we were committed to expanding post-16 provision and increasing from 350 to 450,” said Mrs James.

“It was a huge disappoint-ment to see this opportunity suddenly withdrawn, particularly as there is no funding for developments on our present site and minimal room to expand.”

She said they had no control over admissions to lower years, so restricting access to post-16 education was the only option.

“This was not an ‘easier route of trying to reject those local children who have not achieved across the board and may jeopardise league tables’ as one letter alleged,” said Mrs James.

“We would all welcome the challenge and responsibility to help and value our local 16-year-olds. This is at the heart of comprehensive education.

“Please come and see our post-16 area at break and our school in action. It is not an idle carp to blame our site for the restrictions it places us under.”

Many children with GCSEs at grade C had struggled in post-16 education and had dropped out in year 12, said Mrs James.

“This is injurious to them, as it affects their self-esteem and can damage or delay their chances of finding suitable alternative courses,” she said.

“It also involves the school in extra expense as we have to pay back funding for students who do not complete the two-year post-16 course”