MAY I comment on Dennis Southwell’s letter (HAS, Dec 5), in reply to mine (HAS, Nov 27), on the subject of the size of the senior leadership team at Durham Gilesgate Sports College and Sixth Form Centre.

He calls for “well-informed reflection” but gives little detail.

Here are the facts as presented by the websites of the school, Ofsted and the county council.

In 2009, the overall number of students at Gilesgate was 1,426; at the start of this term it was 1,004, a reduction of 30 per cent.

In 2009, there were seven senior staff, one for every 200 students.

There are now ten, one for every 100 students.

The consequent doubling of the overhead cost is the last thing the secondary school would have wanted with a budget already under stress.

Sadly, the increase in numbers has had no effect on the GCSE pass rate (including English and Maths). It was 39 per cent in 2009 and in 2012, failing to meet the Government’s floor target for 2011-12.

Compare that to Belmont Community School, only a mile away; it shares the same ethos as Gilesgate and has a similar student profile, yet had a pass rate of 71 per cent.

The Sixth Form Centre, which sits on prime city land, now has 770 students; 356 fewer than in 2009 and a staggering 172 fewer than when Ofsted inspected in May.

Instead of basking in the complacent glow of that inspection, the chairman of the governors needs to get a grip as to why large numbers of students are turning their backs on the school. Otherwise, he may find before too long, he is also dealing with the closure of the Sixth Form Centre.

Les Holloway, Durham City.