Minister Gives Approval To School Reorganisation Proposals In Fishguard And St David’s

The Cabinet Secretary for Education, Kirsty Williams AM, has approved proposals to reorganise education in Fishguard and St David’s. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Minister’s approval follows consultation with pupils, parents, staff, governors and other various consultees during the autumn of 2015 and the subsequent publication of a Statutory Notice in November 2015. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Minister’s approval paves the way for the following: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

• The closure of Ysgol Dewi Sant, Ysgol Bro Dewi VA and Solva CP Schools on 31st August 2018;
• The establishment of a new 3-16 Church in Wales VA school in St David’s with effect from 1st September 2018, utilising the sites of the constituent schools;
• A reduction in the age range of Ysgol Bro Gwaun to 11-16 with effect from 1st September 2018;
• The establishment of a new Learning Resource Centre for pupils with Complex Learning Needs at Ysgol Bro Gwaun;
• The establishment of a new sixth form centre as part of a formal collaboration between the County Council and Pembrokeshire College for post 16 pupils of the above schools.

In parallel with the above, work will soon commence on the building of new premises at Ysgol Bro Gwaun and work is ongoing to develop the 3-16 model across the three school sites in the St David’s area as part of the Council’s 21st Century Schools Programme. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

To accommodate post-16 learners from Ysgol Dewi Sant and Ysgol Bro Gwaun, work on an Advanced Learning Centre is already underway at Pembrokeshire College. Funded by Pembrokeshire College and Welsh Government, the £6.6m new build will open in September 2017 and will support and promote inspirational teaching in sector leading learning environments. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr. David Lloyd, Chair of Governors of Ysgol Dewi Sant and Cabinet Member for Education, said: “The approval of the proposals for Ysgol Bro Gwaun, education provision in St David’s and the new A Level Centre in Haverfordwest by the new Minister Kirsty Williams following ten months of intense scrutiny is a mark of how well received the Authority’s carefully considered plans were. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“It is a landmark decision, which provides a source of considerable optimism for the future of educational provision in the county offering the real possibility of raising our pupil outcomes to rank amongst the highest in Wales. I am excited by the challenge ahead. We are on the march, I have no doubt.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

College Principal Sharron Lusher commented: “What we are planning represents a huge investment in education in Pembrokeshire. Our new Advanced Learning Centre, alongside further improvements to the College campus, will benefit all our learners and builds on our commitment to providing the best educational opportunities possible for the young people of Pembrokeshire.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Jamie Adams, Leader of the Council, said: “The Minister’s decision is an important milestone in reorganising secondary education provision in Pembrokeshire. The Council and the local communities made a strong, evidence-based case for change and the impact will be felt by all learners in the Fishguard and St David’s areas. The decision ensures that secondary education provision will be maintained, albeit within a different delivery model. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“These proposals have faced many challenges during the last 12 months or so, but the Minister’s decision vindicates the Council’s desire to change the shape of provision in Fishguard and St David’s for the better and the contribution of the communities in developing a model in partnership with the Council that both addressed the challenges and secured a future for the next generation.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​