Pupils at a secondary school in Merthyr Tydfil held a silent protest against plans to scrap their sixth form. Council officials were met with stony silence from banner-carrying pupils when they visited Cyfarthfa High School last week. Four sixth forms in the county could close under plans to house further and higher education provision in a #163;33-million project, the Learning Quarter. The Assembly government was criticised last month for funding the scheme and similar proposals in Blaenau Gwent.