Agenda item

To consider a report by Councillor Eryl Williams, Lead Member for Education (copy enclosed) about the way forward in respect of Ysgol Llanfair DC and Ysgol Pentrecelyn.

RESOLVED that Cabinet –

(a)       agrees for officers to develop the business case for a replacement building for Ysgol Llanfair DC, and

(b)       agrees to maintain the status quo with regards to Ysgol Pentrecelyn.

Councillor Eryl Williams presented the report detailing the background to the review in respect of Ysgol Llanfair DC and Ysgol Pentrecelyn together with the rationale behind the recommended way forward.

Following completion of the school organisation process in October 2015 Cabinet approved a recommendation to close Ysgol Llanfair DC and Ysgol Pentrecelyn and open a new dual-stream Category 2 Church in Wales primary school.  That decision was challenged via Judicial Review and quashed on procedural grounds.  The Court had not criticised the merits of the proposal and it would be possible to make a similar decision following a further consultation exercise.  However, there was a need to consider afresh any future proposal based on the wider impact and current circumstances with due regard to community cohesion and learners.  After discussions with both school communities it was clear there was no appetite to revisit the same proposal and pursuing that option would risk further community divisions and legal challenges.  It was also clear that the status quo for Ysgol Llanfair could not continue and there was a need for a sustainable Category 2 school in the area.  In light of those considerations it was recommended not to consult on the original proposal.  Instead Cabinet was asked to consider proposals to re-build Ysgol Llanfair on a new site and take no further action over the future of Ysgol Pentrecelyn which would remain a Category 1 school.

The Leader highlighted the Council’s aim to invest in new schools and create buildings which were sustainable for the future and to put children central to the decision making process.  Whilst all members had supported the Council’s priority for the modernisation of schools, that process had led to some difficult decisions and it was acknowledged that the process in this case had proved extremely difficult for the communities involved.  Although it would be possible to consult again on the original proposals, it was felt that the split in communities caused as a result of the process would impede any cooperation between the communities in the near future.  Consequently as Local Member, the Leader supported the report recommendations which would allow Ysgol Pentrecelyn to continue as a Category 1 school and benefit from the same support as every other school in the county, and also provide a much needed new school for Ysgol Llanfair given the extremely poor facilities on site and road safety concerns.

Having considered the relevant factors and reasoning behind the proposals Cabinet supported the recommendations as the best way forward.  It was accepted that it would not be beneficial to pursue the original proposal given recent events and the continued contentions over the proposed language categorisation which could not be resolved to the satisfaction of both school communities.  With regard to Ysgol Llanfair there was a clear need to invest in building a new dual stream Category 2 school in the area and particular reference was made to the current cramped conditions and inadequate facilities which were not conducive to good learning and the Council’s duty to provide the best facilities for pupils where possible.

The Leader invited questions and comments from non-Cabinet members and the main points of debate focused on the following –

·         whilst there was general support for the report recommendations assurances were sought in terms of safeguarding Ysgol Pentrecelyn for the future and the need for parity and fair play was also emphasised, particularly in terms of investment in the school.  Councillor Eryl Williams advised that the status quo would be maintained for Ysgol Pentrecelyn who would continue to receive support from both the Council and GwE alongside all of the county’s schools.  In terms of investment the same approach would be taken as with the Llanferres/Llanarmon area with any future investment being considered as part of Band B funding proposals for 21st Century Schools.  In leading the call for greater assurances, Councillor Huw Hilditch-Roberts sought more robust measures to safeguard Ysgol Pentrecelyn’s long term future beyond the lifetime of the current Council.  However it was noted that the newly elected Council following the May 2017 elections would be setting its own priorities and whilst it was hoped that they would continue and build on the work of the current administration, no guarantees could be made in that regard

·         the main contention to the original proposal had been the language categorisation for the new area school and Councillor Huw Hilditch-Roberts asked for it to be recorded that there had been a willingness on behalf of Ysgol Pentrecelyn to work together with Ysgol Llanfair for a new Category 1 school.  Councillor Eryl Williams was hopeful that the community divisions created by the process could be healed in time – the factions had been created over the two strong opposing views in terms of the language categorisation and the majority of support had been for a Category 2 school.  The priority going forward was to provide better quality education in the future

·         Councillors Alice Jones and Arwel Roberts had been opposed to the Cabinet’s original decision not to designate the proposed new area school as Category 1 and expressed concern regarding the lengthy legal process which had ensued.  Councillor Roberts also referred to the Performance Scrutiny Committee meeting on 11 June 2015 and was disappointed that the committee had resolved not to ask Cabinet to reconsider its decision, particularly given that the outcome would have been different if only elected members had been permitted to vote at that meeting.  Officers confirmed that the committee’s co-opted members had been legally entitled to vote on the matter

·         with regard to the judicial review outcome Councillor Martyn Holland had previously sought assurances regarding the process and he hoped that lessons would be learned as a result.  He had been pleased to note that Communities Scrutiny Committee would be reviewing that process at a future meeting.  Officers felt it was important to note that the whole process had not been flawed and the judgement referred to a procedural aspect.  Understanding that aspect in the context of the school organisation code would merit further discussion at scrutiny.  Councillor Eryl Williams personally believed the Council had followed the correct process and that the Welsh Government guidelines were incorrect

·         Councillor Huw Williams supported the report recommendations but voiced his concerns over the legal action arising from the original decision and subsequent cost to the authority.  He referred to new rules to support Wales’ rural schools recently announced by the Education Secretary and in light of that statement asked that the decision to close Ysgol Llanbedr be reconsidered.  Officers provided clarity regarding the judicial review costs incurred by the authority and explained that, due to a court ruling, the Council had been liable for the vast majority of the costs regardless of the outcome.  With regard to Ysgol Llanbedr a decision was still awaited from the Education Secretary.  The recent statement suggested that new rules would be brought forward in the future in respect of rural schools following a consultation exercise, consequently it would be difficult to respond at this stage in the process

·         in response to a question regarding how surplus places would be addressed in the area, officers confirmed that pupil numbers and the size of the replacement school building for Ysgol Llanfair would be considered during development of the business case.

Councillor Bobby Feeley referred to the recommendations as a compromise solution and hoped the decision would help heal the rift between the communities.  It had been hoped at the start of the review process that an agreement would be reached but unfortunately that had not been the case and the recommendations were now considered the best way forward for both schools.

Councillor Eryl Williams proposed the recommendations to ensure the best future for both schools, seconded by Councillor Hugh Evans.  It was subsequently –

RESOLVED that Cabinet –

(a)       agrees for officers to develop the business case for a replacement building for Ysgol Llanfair DC, and

(b)       agrees to maintain the status quo with regards to Ysgol Pentrecelyn.