Spotlight Powys

School Transformation

Motion or resolution considered by Powys County Council

This motion was heard on 03/03/2022. It was proposed by James Gibson-Watt and seconded by Jake Berriman .

Motion as voted upon

Council notes

1 The focus of Estyn on concerns about the performance of the authority in delivering for Powys Secondary Schools in its 2019 report

2 The consultation and briefing sessions that were undertaken prior to Feb 2020 to establish the current schools transformation programme

3 The presentation by the Headteacher from Dolgellau as part of the transformation consultation conference on the benefits of cluster schools in rural areas

4 The major changes to the way schools have worked during the Covid pandemic

5 The recent comments at a Members’ Briefing on Schools Transformation by a Powys Secondary Head of an all-through school reflecting that whilst an all through school was working he wished he could have extended the benefits by including all primary schools in the cluster

6 That the Council is about to embark on developing a new Local Development Plan as the current one has failed to bring forward the number of properties in urban areas that it was expected to

Council Believes

1 Successful transformation programmes are ones that take stock of their direction if there are major societal or business changes which may change the model of proposed service delivery

2 That the Covid pandemic represents such a fundamental change whose impact is only now starting to become clear in the Powys housing market with a resultant demographic impact.

3 That the close working developed within school clusters over the past 24 months means that large parts of the basis for change that underpins the current transformation programme, particularly in relation to delivery of the new curriculum, may have been superseded by changes to ways of working on the ground

4 That the cluster school model as outlined at the transformation conference, which received cross party support as the basis for change, has not been properly tested as a way forward in any of the current transformation proposals, leaving the Council vulnerable to Judicial Review in respect of the Welsh Government’s Rural Schools policy within the Schools Organisation Code

5 That in the absence of this information Cabinet may have made decisions which with additional briefings they would wish to reconsider.



Council therefore requests Cabinet to

1 Implement a 1 year delay to the implementation of all current closure proposals that have been approved by Cabinet over the past 18 months.

2 To request the transformation team to undertake a comprehensive review of the assumptions underpinning the programme in respect of changes made to ways of working within clusters during the Covid Pandemic

3 To request the transformation team to undertake a comprehensive review of the cluster school model that was proposed at the transformation conference, which will assist in the development of secondary and post-19 provision, but which has not been considered in any of the subsequent proposals.

4 That both reports are published before the end of the summer academic term and are made available for discussion by full council and scrutiny before existing decisions are either reconfirmed or abandoned during the autumn term 2022 for implementation at the end of the academic year.

For - 24
(49.0%)
Against - 24
(49.0%)
Abstained - 1
(2.0%)

Result: Not Passed
Vote Requirement: Simple Majority

  Voting Record

Below is the individual voting record for all councillors on this motion/resolution.

Name Group Vote
Alexander, Myfanwy
Banwy
 Independent Group Against
Barnes, Mark
Newtown Llanllwchaiarn West
 Non-Aligned Did not vote
Baynham, Beverley
Presteigne
 Independent Group Did not vote
Berriman, Jake
Llandrindod North
 Welsh Liberal Democrat Group For
Breeze, Graham
Welshpool Llanerchyddol
 Independent Group Did not vote
Charlton, Jackie
Llangattock and Llangynidr
 Welsh Liberal Democrat Group For
Corfield, Linda
Forden
 Independent Group Against
Curry, Kelvyn
Rhayader
 Welsh Liberal Democrats For
Davies, Aled
Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant and Llansilin
 Welsh Conservatives Group Against
Davies, Bryn
Banwy, Llanfihangel and Llanwddyn
 Plaid Cymru Group Did not vote
Davies, Dai
Berriew
 Independent Group Against
Davies, Phyl
Blaen Hafren
 Welsh Conservatives Against
Davies, Sandra
Cwm-twrch
 Welsh Labour Group Did not vote
Dorrance, Matthew
Brecon West
 Welsh Labour Group For
Durrant, Emily
Llangors
 Plaid Cymru Did not vote
Evans, David
Nantmel
 Independent Group For
Evans, James
Gwernyfed
 Welsh Conservatives Did not vote
Fitzpatrick, Liam
Talybont-on-Usk
 New Powys Group Did not vote
George, Les
Caersws
 Welsh Conservatives Group Against
Gibson-Watt, James
Glasbury
 Welsh Liberal Democrat Group For
Harris, Rosemarie
Llangynidr
 Independent Group Against
Hayes, Stephen
Montgomery
 Independent Group Against
Hulme, Heulwen
Rhiwcynon
 Independent Group Against
Jenner, Amanda
Trelystan and Trewern
 Welsh Conservatives Group Against
Jones, Arwel
Llandysilio
 Independent Group Against
Jones, David
Guilsfield
 Independent Group For
Jones, E. Michael
Old Radnor
 Independent Group Against
Jones, Emyr
Llanfihangel
 Independent Group Against

  Against
Jones, Joy
Newtown East
 Non-Affiliated Did not vote
Jones, Michael J
Churchstoke
 Independent Group Against
Jones-Poston, Diane
Llanbrynmair
 Welsh Conservatives Against
Jump, Francesca
Welshpool Gungrog
 Welsh Liberal Democrats For
Laurie-Parry, Karen
Bronllys
 New Powys Group For
Lewis, Hywel
Llangunllo
 Independent Group For
Lewis, Karl
Llandinam with Dolfor
 Welsh Conservatives Group Abstained
Lewis, Peter
Llanfyllin
 Welsh Conservatives Group Against
Mackenzie, Maureen
Llanelwedd
 Welsh Liberal Democrats For
McIntosh, Iain
Yscir with Honddu Isaf and Llanddew
 Welsh Conservatives Group For
McNicholas, Susan
Ynyscedwyn
 Welsh Labour Group For
Meredith, David
Brecon West
 Welsh Labour Group For

  Did not vote
Morgan, Gareth
Llanidloes
 Welsh Liberal Democrat Group For
Morris, John
Crickhowell
 Welsh Liberal Democrats For
Powell, Rachel
Beguildy
 Independent Group Did not vote
Powell, William
Talgarth
 Welsh Liberal Democrat Group Did not vote
Price, David
Llanafanfawr
 Independent Group Did not vote
Pritchard, Phil
Welshpool Castle
 Independent Group Against
Pugh, Gareth
Dolforwyn
 Welsh Conservatives Group Against
Pugh, Jeremy
Builth
 Independents for Powys Group Did not vote
Ratcliffe, Gareth
Hay
 Welsh Liberal Democrat Group Did not vote
Rijnenberg, Liz
Brecon East
 Welsh Labour Group For
Roberts, Lucy
Llandrinio
 Welsh Conservatives Group Did not vote
Roberts, Pete
Llandrindod South
 Welsh Liberal Democrat Group For
Roberts-Jones, Kath
Kerry
 Independent Group Against
Roderick, Edwin
Maescar and Llywel
 Independent Group Against
Rowlands, Daniel
Newtown Llanllwchaiarn North
 Welsh Conservatives Did not vote
Selby, David
Newtown Central and South
 Welsh Liberal Democrat Group For
Silk, Kathryn
Bwlch
 Welsh Liberal Democrats For
Skilton, Les
Newtown South
 Action for Powys Group Did not vote
Thomas, David
Tawe Uchaf
 Welsh Labour Group For
Thomas, Gwynfor
Llansantffraid
 Welsh Conservatives Group Against
Van-Rees, Tim
Llanwrtyd Wells
 Independent Group Did not vote
Vaughan, Elwyn
Glantwymyn
 Plaid Cymru Group Against
Weale, Martin
Llanbadarn Fawr
 Action for Powys Group Did not vote
Wilkinson, Jonathan
Llangyniew and Meifod
 Welsh Conservatives Group Against
Williams, Ange
Knighton with Beguildy
 Independents for Powys Group For
Williams, Gwilym
Disserth and Trecoed
 Action for Powys Group Did not vote
Williams, Huw
Aber-craf and Ystradgynlais
 Welsh Labour Group For
Williams, Jon
Llandrindod East/Llandrindod West
 Non-Aligned Did not vote
Williams, Michael
Machynlleth
 Independent Group Did not vote
Williams, Roger
Felin-Fach
 Welsh Liberal Democrats For
Williams, Sarah
Aber-craf and Ystradgynlais
 Welsh Labour Group Did not vote

Source: Voting Record