School Closures

Motion as voted upon

The current Welsh school closure programme started when the previous Labour and Liberal Democrat Welsh Government administration was in power, with Kirsty Williams MS as Education Minister. Since then, local authorities throughout Wales have taken decisions to close primary schools. The following three schools now face closure in Powys:

Cradoc CP School
Llanfihangel Rhydithon CP School
Llanbedr Church in Wales School

During the closure process, the proposals to close the above three schools went through the Learning and Skills Scrutiny committee, chaired by the Liberal Democrat Councillor Cllr Pete Roberts.

On 8th December the Learning and Skills scrutiny group met to consider the closure of Cradoc CP School; 2021-12-08 Scrutiny Recs to Cabinet - Cradoc and Mount Street v2.pdf (moderngov.co.uk). The chairman made no objections to the proposal and submitted observations with four additional recommendations.

On 22nd September the Learning and Skills scrutiny group met to consider the closure of Llanfihangel Rhydithon CP School; 2021-09-22 Scrutiny Recs to Cabinet - Llanfihangel Rhydithon.pdf (moderngov.co.uk). The chairman made no objections to the proposal and submitted observations to include the comment “The committee was satisfied that the majority of the arguments set out in the document were justified on all grounds.”

On 4th November the Learning and Skills scrutiny group met to consider the closure of Llanbedr Church in Wales School; 2021-11-04 Scrutiny Recs to Cabinet - Llanbedr.pdf (moderngov.co.uk). The chairman made no objections to the proposal and submitted observations to include the comment “There were no recommendations from scrutiny to the cabinet.”.

Despite the Learning and Skills Scrutiny committee chair’s apparent satisfaction with the three primary school closure proposals, Welsh Liberal Democrat candidates now forming the new Powys County Council administration campaigned, and committed, to reverse the closure of primary schools in Powys during the recent County Council election campaign:

On 29th January 2022, 13th February 2022 and 14th May 2022, several Liberal Democrat Council candidates, Councillors, and current Cabinet members joined Powys residents on protest walks and campaign days to fight against the closure of the three schools above. On 23rd January 2022 several Labour candidates, councillors and a current Cabinet member joined Powys residents on a protest walk to fight against the closure of Cradoc CP School, Mount Street Infants School, and Mount Street Primary School. During this year’s County Council election campaign period, Liberal Democrat and Labour candidates informed Powys residents, through campaign literature, social media, and doorstep conversations that if elected, and in control of this authority, they would stop the closure of the three schools above. Since taking control of this authority in May, the new administration has failed to carry out their commitment to Powys residents. Instead, the Leader has announced that Llanfihangel Rhydithon and Llanbedr school closures will be delayed for one calendar year, offering false hope to parents, teachers, and children, as council officers have confirmed that both schools will still close.

The Leader and new Cabinet members have now revealed plans to proceed with the proposal to close Cradoc CP School, going against commitments made to all residents, teachers, parents and children in Powys.

This council therefore calls upon the new Powys County Council administration to:

Keep Cradoc CP School open.
Not propose the closure of Cradoc CP School again during the next five-year term.