CONSULTATION on plans to create a new primary school in Powys by merging three existing schools has begun, the county council has said. Powys County Council (PCC) is proposing to merge Mount Streets Infants School, Mount Street Junior School and Cradoc County Primary School in Brecon to create a new super primary school as part of transforming education plans for the Brecon catchment area. The council’s cabinet gave the go-ahead last December to start formal consultation on the plans. Now the council is asking for views from the public on the proposals, which it says would improve the education entitlement and experience for future learners.
AN ONLINE petition to save a Montgomeryshire primary school from shutting is closing in on 500 signatures. Protesters against Powys County Council (PCC) plans to close Castle Caereinion Church in Wales School near Llanfair Caereinion set up a change.org petition last week, which had reached 461 signatures by Sunday (February 14). Supporters of the school have described it as “worth its weight in gold” and say closing it would be akin to “ripping the heart” out of the community. The county council confirmed on February 9 that a consultation over controversial plans to close Castle Caereinion, as well as three other rural schools in Powys, will go ahead. The petition quickly appeared to fight proposals.
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image copyrightJanine Phillips
image captionParent Janine Phillips is concerned about the impact school closures could have on children s mental health during the pandemic
A mother has criticised a council s awful timing as it considers closing four rural schools.
Powys council s cabinet has been asked to approve a consultation on the closures when it meets on Tuesday. These children are already displaced from the school environment due to Covid and now on their return the will be informed that their school is up for closure, Janine Phillips said.
The council said it wanted to offer children the best possible start .
Plans to close four rural schools in Powys by August 2022 have been criticised by the Montgomeryshire Liberal Democrats. Senedd election candidate Alison Alexander said the timing of the announcement made by Powys Council was dreadful for families and teachers Next week, the Cabinet will be asked to start the statutory process to close Castle Caereinion Church in Wales School, Churchstoke County Primary School, Llanbedr Church in Wales School and Llanfihangel Rhydithon County Primary School. A consultation is expected to start later this month if it is given the go-ahead.
READ MORE: Mrs Alexander said: Many parents and teachers in affected villages will be reading the statements from Conservative-Independent-run Powys County Council Cabinet trumpeting ambitious plans for ‘educational transformation’ only to be horrified to find this actually means their local schools are ear-marked for closure as part of this ‘grand project’.