Agenda item

To consider a report by the Principal Manager – Education Support (copy enclosed) which outlines the support provided to Ysgol Rhewl during the closure process and the feedback from stakeholders on the support received

10.45am – 11.15am

The Lead Member for Education, Children and Young People introduced the Principal Manager:  Modernising Education’s report (previously circulated) which outlined the support provided to Ysgol Rhewl during the process undertaken to close the school.  Attached to the report were appendices summarising the responses received from parents to the questionnaires issued to them, comments received from the schools receiving the remaining pupils along with the observations received from the Acting Headteacher at Ysgol Rhewl at the time of the closure.  The Lead Member informed the Committee that only two parents had responded to the questionnaire issued, and of the seven schools that had received pupils from Rhewl five had responded.  Some of the feedback received was also contradictory. 

It had initially been anticipated that the majority of pupils would transfer to the new schools in Ruthin, however this had not happened.   A number of the children had transferred to schools in other areas of the county, some because they lived closer to those schools and others due to parental choice.  The Lead Member acknowledged that it was never a pleasant experience to close a school, but it was however pleasing to report that the former pupils had settled well into their new schools.  Members were informed by the Principal Manager:  Modernising Education that officers from the Council’s Education Service had worked closely with the Acting Headteacher at Ysgol Rhewl throughout the whole closure and transfer process.  He also advised that the Acting Headteacher had worked diligently with pupils and parents under very difficult circumstances.  As well as providing support to parents (including one to one and group meetings), pupils, and the governing body the Council had also provided support, either directly or indirectly, via Careers Wales, to school staff affected by the closure - a fact reflected in the Acting Headteacher’s comments.  The Head of Education and Children’s Services requested it be noted that despite the fact that the Council was undertaking a disappointing  and unpleasant experience for them personally the school community at Ysgol Rhewl had conducted themselves impeccably and always been professional, polite, respectful and courteous towards Education Service officers 

Responding to members’ questions the Lead Member and officers:

·         acknowledged that communities valued their school buildings and advised that the Council did initially offer the local community the option to buy redundant school buildings.  Where no community facilities existed this had the potential to provide the community with an opportunity to acquire an amenity.  Rhewl already had a well-equipped and well used Sports Pavilion, therefore there was no community interest in purchasing the school building which was in a poor state of repair;

·         advised that officers had done their utmost to engage with parents, pupils and the school community and to support them through the process, there would always be lessons to be learnt for the future;

·         advised that it was important that support etc. was available when parents and stakeholders were ready to engage.  Due to the sensitiveness of school closure proposals not all those affected were ready to engage or access support at the same time. Building flexibility into the process would therefore be key;

·         confirmed that some pupils/parents had changed their choice of school of transfer following attending taster days at different schools;

·         advised that support had also been provided by the Education Service to those schools who received pupils from Ysgol Rhewl;

·         confirmed that the decision not to move those pupils of Ysgol Rhewl whose new school of choice was Rhos Street School to the new school when it opened, but rather to wait until the new academic year, had been taken following discussion and consultation with the Acting Headteacher.  It was felt that this was a better approach as it would avoid the need for Year 6 pupils to move for just one term and then move on to secondary education again in the autumn term;

·         advised that there was no indication that changing schools had adversely affected pupils’ attainment.  Two of the schools that had received pupils from Ysgol Rhewl had recently been inspected by Estyn and had received very good inspection reports.  A report on the impact of the review of primary education provision in the Ruthin area in its entirety was scheduled for presentation to the Committee at its October 2019 meeting.  That report would include an assessment of any impact on pupils’ attainment;

·         confirmed that the Acting Headteacher had returned to a post at her previous school, some staff had taken redundancy packages whilst others had found alternative employment.  The Principal Manager:  Modernising Education agreed to circulate more detailed information relating to this and on work being undertaken by the Council’s Youth Services to members; and

·         reassured the Committee that Rhewl was a village which had strong community links and numerous well established community activities were held there on a regular basis

At the conclusion of the discussion the Committee:

Resolved: - subject to the above observations to acknowledge the feedback received and the lessons learnt that will be used for future planning within the Education Service

At this juncture (11.45 a.m.) there was a 10 minute break.

The meeting reconvened at 11.55 a.m.