To consider a report by County Councillor Arwel Jones, Portfolio Holder for Education.
Minutes:
Cabinet considered responses received to the consultation on proposals to close Builth Wells High School and Llandrindod High School on 31st August 2018, and to establish a new dual-stream 11 – 18 secondary school that would operate across the current sites of the two schools from 1st September 2018. Cabinet was advised that a total of 1788 objections had been received during the statutory objection period, including 78 individual written responses and 1695 responses that were a copy of a single objection template signed by individual objectors. It was confirmed that there were no responses received in support of the proposal. Appended to the report were copies of the objections received and the authority’s responses.
County Councillor David Price spoke as a local member representing the catchment of Builth Wells High School. He did not feel that there was anything in the proposals to merge the schools that would lead to standards being improved nor was there any guarantee that larger schools were necessarily better. He argued that the objections received showed that there was no support for the proposal and he urged the Cabinet to listen to the public.
County Councillor Gary Price spoke as a local member for Llandrindod Wells. He questioned why the Cabinet was pursuing the option of merging the schools given the large public response against the proposal. He noted that when proposals for the merger of Brecon and Gwernyfed High Schools had been abandoned the Cabinet had cited the large public response as a reason, yet there had been a larger response in opposition to the proposals for Builth Wells and Llandrindod High Schools.
Cabinet sought and received confirmation that any decision taken did not predetermine the proposals for the Welsh medium stream in Brecon High School due to be considered at the next meeting.
In reply to comments about Estyn’s response that it wasnot possible to establish whether standards would be at least maintained by the proposal, Cabinet was reminded that both schools were currently in special measures. The proposals offered the opportunity of improved leadership at all levels, leading to improved teaching, improved mentoring and coaching opportunities for staff and economies of scale leading to greater investment in teaching and learning all of which would help improve standards.
Cabinet did not feel that there was anything in the responses received that was new or would lead to them to changing their view that the two schools should merge.
RESOLVED |
Reason for Decision: |
To confirm the decision of Cabinet made on 27th September 2016 to close Builth Wells High School and Llandrindod High School on 31st August 2018, and to establish a new dual-stream 11 – 18 secondary school that will operate across the current sites of the two schools from 1st September 2018.
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To establish a sustainable model of secondary education in Mid Powys that would be able to deliver high-quality education. |
Councillor MR Harris did not vote having been absent for the start of the debate.
Supporting documents: