Monday, June 13th, 2011

AM & MP GIVE VIEWS ON SCHOOL REORGANISATION

Assembly Member and Member of Parliament Rhodri Glyn Thomas and Jonathan Edwards have submitted their response to Carmarthenshire County Council’s consultation on school reorganisation in the Dinefwr area of the county.

The consultation, which closes this Friday (17th June), invites comments on the local authority’s plans for secondary education in the Amman, Towy and Gwendraeth areas.  The most controversial of all is the proposal to merge Ysgol Pantycelyn in Llandovery and Ysgol Tregib in Llandeilo into one new ‘super school’ at a new location in Llandeilo.

In their consultation response, the Plaid Cymru AM and MP have raised a series of concerns regarding the whole consultation process and have called on the local authority to be more transparent in their approach as the statutory proceedings progress.

In a joint statement Rhodri Glyn Thomas and Jonathan Edwards said:

“Recognising the projected pupil numbers for the area, we appreciate the need for the local authority to look at the provision of secondary education in the county.

 

“We welcome the establishment of one Category 2A school in Cwm Gwendraeth to replace the existing Gwendraeth and Maes yr Yrfa schools, and welcome the progression in Ysgol Dyffryn Aman from its current 2C status to 2B.

“The majority of our report focuses on the proposed creation of one new build secondary school in Llandeilo to replace existing Pantycelyn and Tregib schools which has undoubtedly been the most controversial of all proposals.

 

“We continue to have grave concerns regarding the technical appraisal of the proposed site and while our concerns regarding the procurement process remain unaddressed, we have no alternative but to consider the decisions to be a fait accompli.  

 

“A series of questions also remain unanswered for the parents of pupils of Llandovery and surrounding areas regarding transport arrangements and the financial arrangements for the school during the transition to the new build.

 

“The closure of a school is always a controversial issue.  Pupil attainment should always be the priority when it comes to the provision of education.  The local authority must demonstrate how it will deliver the highest level of education in its pursuit to make efficiency savings.”

 

ENDS/DIWEDD

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