PROPOSALS which could lead to the closure of a number of secondary schools and sixth forms across Swansea are unlikely to go-ahead before 2014.

Education chiefs in Swansea have revealed that a shake-up in their post-16 education provision is unlikely to be completed before that date, as they continue to consider options to tackle falling rolls.

The options, contained in the authority's Quality in Education (QEd), include the possibility of axing sixth forms at Bishop Gore and Gowerton schools and the closure of Daniel James.

Staff at under-threat schools were last month sent a letter from the director of education advising them that "no options are being progressed at this stage".

But they have been warned that all options remain open.

A Swansea Council spokesman said: "The Council's position on improving secondary education in the city has always been consistent. We published options for secondary education in March last year.

"They included options for post-16 education. In December we told head teachers in a newsletter that in terms of post-16 education only, the full implementation of any changes would be unlikely before 2014.

"No options have been dropped and head teachers will be updated later on in the spring."

In addition to the challenge of falling rolls, Swansea Council's QEd programme is aimed at addressing an estimated £147 million repair bill for the authority's crumbling school buildings.

It has already seen a review of primary provision, recommending the closure of Cwm, Arfryn and Llanmorlais schools. A final decision on those schools will be taken by the Welsh Assembly Government later this year.

The review of post-16 education provision is likely to be influenced by the expected merger of Swansea and Gorseinon Colleges. An announcement on whether those plans can go-ahead is expected from the Welsh Assembly Government next month.

Councillors are due to receive an update on the programme in March - when it could be announced that options are to be progressed, dropped, or adapted.

The Swansea Council spokesman added: "Our timetable for bringing forward proposals for change means that we will be discussing all the options in the near future."

The announcement that there is unlikely to be no change to post 16 provision until 2014 was welcomed by Peter Harrison, headteacher of Gowerton.

He said: "For us and Bishop Gore, who are in similar positions, the news is good because we are able to work with other schools and colleges to provide a curriculum for those students who wish to come back to sixth form schools"