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Fewer than one in five proposals for new or expanded school sixth-forms have received the blessing of the Further Education Funding Council in the last year. The council, which covers England, has considered 42 proposals for sixth-forms, agreeing with just eight.

During the same period, the Secretary of State for Education approved 23 applications and rejected 24.

The FEFC released the figures to coincide with the publication of a circular detailing its procedures for considering school reorganisations affecting 16 to 18-year-olds.

Its says its four key criteria are: * Whether the proposal remedies insufficient post-16 provision in the area; * Whether the advantages of choice and diversity outweigh the cost of some duplicated provision; * Whether the proposals could significantly affect the viability and quality of existing provision; * Whether the level of funding for school provision would be very different to FE college costs.

The FEFC is responsible for securing adequate education for all 16-18 year-olds, whether in schools or colleges.