WORRIED parents have raised major concerns over their children’s educations after “significant” changes to subjects on offer at two schools.

Peter Hughes, interim CEO of the Ortu Trust, wrote to parents at Gable Hall School and Hassenbrook Academy, in Corringham, last week over “significant changes that will take place over the coming months”.

This comes after the Ortu Sixth-Form Centre, at Gable Hall, “paused” admissions and no new pupils were able to join in September.

The schools are currently operated by the Ortu Federation, but are being transferred to the Hackney-based Mossbourne Federation after intervention from the Department for Education following an “inadequate” Ofsted rating.

Mr Hughes has now confirmed that significant changes to the staffing structure at the trust “must be made if the schools are to remain financially viable”.

For students in Year 11, the selection of A Level courses on offer in the sixth form will be cut and for younger pupils the GCSE courses offered to children will change.

One parent, who asked to remain anonymous, said: “My son is currently studying business and finance, which he wants to continue at college, however, this is looking like it is being cut. This is the same for drama, which is also potentially being cut.

“My son has suffered disruption since year 7, due to Covid, then the upheaval of the Ortu Trust, his whole education is just constantly disrupted. My daughter, currently in year six, after the opening evening was so excited as she loved the prospect of drama and music at senior school.

“I have now submitted the senior school application with Gable Hall as number one, however, with these proposed changes, I now worry this will not be the school for her, but I am unable to change my application.

“I find the new proposals very discriminatory against non-academic children. It is outrageous.”

There are also proposed changes to the timings of the school days, with Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays finishing at 3.45pm, with Thursdays ending at 2.55pm, and Fridays ending at 1.45pm.

Parents have been asked to submit their thoughts on the proposed changes by December 2.