Proposal to Close “One Big Family” Primary School Leaves Community Devastated

People are “devastated” about the prospect of a primary school described as “one big family” potentially closing.
Sian Garland is a parent governor and co-chair of the PTA at Tref-Y-Rhyg Primary School in Tonyrefail which Rhondda Cynon Taf (RCT) Council is consulting on closing due to a forecasted decline in pupil numbers and the condition of the building.
She said that people are “distraught” and “devastated” about the proposal to close the school which would see pupils move to Tonyrefail Community School by no later than September 2025.
Sian said: “Everybody is really upset. It has come as a shock to staff, parents and children.
“Everybody’s really devastated. We are just one big family.”
She said that every member of staff at the school knows every pupil and their families, adding you don’t get that anywhere else.
Sian said: “Going from a small school to a big school would effect the children so much.”
She also claimed the distances that pupils would have to walk to the new school are “unrealistic” saying there’s no way they could walk to the other school if Tref y Rhyg was closed, and that buses are already full
She said: “We really want to keep that family feel. We are a deprived area. The support that the families get from the school is unreal.”
She mentioned things like the swap shop, free uniform and the free breakfast clubs at the school, saying “people take advantage of that because they have to. There is no option really.”
She said that for some kids if they didn’t go to the breakfast club they wouldn’t get that breakfast that day.
“We are absolutely going to fight this for our end of Tonyrefail.”
A petition has been signed by more than 400 people and a walk is planned on October 14 from Capel Community Centre to Tonyrefail Community School which aims to highlight the route that children would have to walk to school if Tref-Y-Rhyg closes.
A spokesperson for Rhondda Cynon Taf Council said: “We understand that considering a school reorganisation change such as this is very sensitive, and that there are many factors that need to be considered before coming to a final decision.
“It is important to reiterate that no decision has yet been made, and the community now has an important opportunity to have their say on all elements of what is proposed. Residents are encouraged to take part in the consultation, including submitting a survey response as part of this process – which runs from September 30 to November 15.
 “Officers have proposed that Tref-y-Rhyg Primary School is closed based on several key factors – including the steady decline of pupils that is anticipated, with projections showing a surplus capacity of 65.6% by 2028/29. The school site is also graded ‘C’ for condition and ‘D’ for suitability (where ‘A’ is the highest rating and ‘D’ is the lowest).
 “The building has a significant backlog of maintenance, and further funding would be required for the school to reach 21st Century standards, which is what we aspire to. In addition, the site’s limited outdoor areas are not suitable to deliver the Curriculum for Wales. Tonyrefail Community School, meanwhile, has first-class facilities after it was part of a major £44m investment in 2020, and it is also the school that already provides secondary education for Tref-y-Rhyg Primary’s catchment area.
 “It is so important for residents to take part in the consultation, to tell us what they think about what is proposed. Every single response that we receive will be viewed and considered by Cabinet Members, to inform their final decision on the proposal in the future.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

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