A senior councillor has denounced comparisons between school transformation proposals in different areas of Powys, asserting that such evaluations are “ridiculous.” During a meeting of the Powys County Council’s Learning and Skills Committee on December 11, 2023, members reviewed a report detailing public responses to the proposed closure of Llandinam Primary School, which currently serves just 35 pupils.
The report revealed significant opposition to the closure, with a petition titled “Save Llandinam CP School” garnering support from 745 individuals. Cllr Angela Davies expressed her concerns, referencing her own experiences with small schools. She stated, “My older children went to a small school that has closed, and my younger children went to a larger school. I genuinely believed that larger schools could not deliver the quality of care and education that small schools offered.” Cllr Davies highlighted that the Year One class at Llandinam consists of only five students, limiting their ability to participate in team sports or extracurricular activities.
Judith Hickey, the Head of Additional Learning Needs, Inclusion, and Wellbeing, noted that school transformations have been successful in various areas, specifically mentioning Ystradgynlais, where several smaller schools were closed in favor of larger facilities. “Transformation has been really successful in the Ystradgynlais area,” Hickey said, emphasizing that children now have increased opportunities for extracurricular activities.
Cllr Sue McNicholas, representing Ynyscedwyn, echoed Hickey’s sentiments, admitting that despite resistance to school closures, the outcomes in Ystradgynlais were ultimately positive. “We resisted, we fought against the closure of all the schools, but we were wrong,” she stated.
In contrast, Cllr Aled Davies, leader of the Conservative group, cautioned against drawing parallels between urban and rural school settings. He remarked, “Every time we talk about school closures, the Ystradgynlais example is rolled out. But we still have four schools that are really close to each other. It’s a ridiculous comparison to rural Powys where children have to catch a bus at 07:30 in the morning.”
The debate over school closures is not new in Davies’ ward, where both Ysgol Llangedwyn and Ysgol Bro Cynllaith were closed in recent years. Cllr Davies indicated that he supported the closure of Llangedwyn due to its small student population and proximity to other schools but opposed the closure of Bro Cynllaith, which subsequently saw a third of its pupils relocate to Shropshire.
“We have to take it one school at a time and understand the issues because they are all different,” Cllr Davies noted, emphasizing the need for a tailored approach to each school’s situation.
Marianne Evans, the Head of Transforming Education, supported Cllr Davies’ perspective, explaining that during the transformation processes in both Ystradgynlais and the Gwernyfed catchment areas, closures were accompanied by the establishment of new school buildings.
Recommendations from the committee will be incorporated into the report before it is presented to the Liberal Democrat/Labour Cabinet, where a decision to move forward with the next stage of the process is anticipated. The ongoing discussion highlights the delicate balance between educational quality, community sentiment, and logistical realities in the diverse landscapes of Powys.
