Posted: Wed 18th Sep 2024

Campaigners Challenged to Save Powys’ Most Northerly Primary School

news.wales / newyddion.cymru

Campaigners hoping to prevent the closure of Powys’ most northerly primary school have been challenged to find alternative proposals that could keep it open.
The proposal to start the legal process to close Ysgol Bro Cynllaith primary school in Llansilin near Oswestry was discussed at a meeting of Powys County Council’s Liberal Democrat/Labour cabinet on Tuesday, September 17.
The report explains that the school has 26 pupils, and they cost £8,831 each, which is well above the county average spend per pupil of £4,729.
Head of school transformation Marianne Evans said: “We feel that the best option to address low pupil numbers, high budget per pupil and combined age classes is for children to transfer to Ysgol Gynradd Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant which is seven miles from Llansilin.”
The Learning and Skill scrutiny committee had probed the proposal last week and its chairman, Conservative Cllr Gwynfor Thomas spoke at the meeting.
Cllr Thomas said:  “I beg you to really consider what comes out of the consultation.
“There seems to be a thought that Llanrhaeadr will be the only receiving school, 90 per cent of these pupils live closer to the Shropshire border and Shropshire schools.
“I hope the consultation will identify where those pupils will go because it will be a massive loss to Powys if they go over the border.”
He pointed out that primary schools in Trefonen and Selattyn near Oswestry in England are “very close” to this area.
Cllr Thomas added: “It’s difficult to go to a closure when we don’t know the bigger picture.
“The main point is: if we lose those pupils across the border to the primary sector, we lose them to the high school sector, as that’s the natural progression and there are very strong high schools in Oswestry.
“They will be forever missed in Powys.”
Conservative group leader and member for Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant and Llansilin, Cllr Aled Davies said: “This is of massive importance to our small corner in the very north of Powys between Wrexham and Shropshire.
“It will cause untold damage to the area if we lose this school.”
Education portfolio holder Liberal Democrat Cllr Pete Roberts said: “I look forward to submissions that come forward to see if there is a better answer.
“I am open to listening to it.”
He advised opponents of the closure to “craft their arguments” around rebutting education officers reasons for closing the school.
“Demonstrating there is a better case gives a reason for officers to change their minds and different proposal brought to Cabinet,” said Cllr Roberts.
Council leader Liberal Democrat, Cllr James Gibson-Watt stressed that no decision to close the school was being taken at the meeting, the decision was to “just” go out to consultation,
Cllr Gibson-Watt said: “This is by no means the end of the story; we are a long way from that.”
Cabinet unanimously agreed to start the consultation process which could see the school close on August 31, 2025. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

By BBC LDRS ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​



Spotted something? Got a story? Email News@News.Wales



More from Powys Council

Factory Extension Plans in Newtown Could Safeguard Over 60 Jobs

Powys Council

Plans for Three Houses Next to Historic Powys Pub to be Decided by Councillors

Powys Council

Opposition Councillors Lodge Motion of No Confidence in Liberal Democrat Cabinet Member

Powys Council

Herefordshire Hotel Bar Seeks Permission for Late-Night Entertainment and Alcohol Sales

Powys Council

Health Chiefs to Revisit Proposals Amid “Significant Concern” Over Hospital Service Changes

Powys Council

Spanner Thrown into Works of New Home to School Transport Policy in Powys as Opposition Groups Join Forces

Powys Council

Latest from News.Wales

Plans approved to increase capacity of Wrexham AFC’s temporary Kop stand to over 3,000

Wrexham Council

Plans to Convert Historic Barry Church into Restaurant Could Save It from Demolition

Vale of Glamorgan Council

New accommodation for young adults in Newport gets council approval

Newport Council

Delivery Hours Extension at Caerleon Sainsbury’s Sparks Villagers’ Concerns

Newport Council

Pembrokeshire Farm Barn Attraction Decision Deferred Amidst Strong Support

Pembrokeshire Council

1,000 Days Lost Due to Exclusions at Vale of Glamorgan Schools

Vale of Glamorgan Council