Lead members set to approve primary school closure despite accusations consultation process was flawed

A primary school in the Ceiriog Valley looks set to close permanently next summer, despite fierce opposition and criticism over the council’s consultation process from local residents.

Executive board members will next week make a decision on whether to proceed with the proposed closure of Ysgol Pontfadog in the Ceiriog Valley.

A report due before councillors recommends the board gives its approval to “discontinue Ysgol Pontfadog” as of August 31st 2019.

Currently there are three schools within the Federation, one Welsh medium in Ysgol Llanarmon, one English medium in Ysgol Pontfadog and one dual stream in Ysgol Cynddelw.

18 pupils currently attend the school, however Wrexham Council say there has been a drop in pupil numbers at both Ysgol Pontfadog and Ysgol Cynddelw schools due to a “growing Welsh medium demand in the valley”.

The potential closure of the school has been on the cards for over 12 months, with Wrexham Council launching a public consultation on the following three options last year:

– Retain the status quo with all three schools remaining as they are currently.
– Change language designation at Ysgol Cynddelw to Welsh medium.
– Propose closure of Ysgol Pontfadog and re-locate pupils to the Cynddelw dual stream site.

The proposed closure of the school has been met with strong opposition from residents in the Ceiriog Valley, with campaigners fighting to keep the 110-year-old school open branding the council’s consultation as ‘flawed’.

More than 1,340 objections to the closure were sent to Wrexham Council during a recent statutory consultation period, including 83 individual letters and emails and 1,266 ‘pre-prepared templates’.

A breakdown of comments received is provided in next week’s report, which notes the consultation being described as “mishandled and flawed” was mentioned 882 times.

Responding to the comments, Wrexham Council say: “The council has issued consultation documents in accordance with the statutory School Organisation Code 2013.

“School organisation consultation documents are subject to rigorous compliance checks prior to their publication, which includes verifying information provided by the schools and national sources.

“Due to the volume of responses we receive when consulting on options we will not be able to acknowledge written responses nor enter into correspondence with interested parties during or after the consultation period. This was stated clearly on Page 4 of the original consultation document.”

A further 733 mentions were made about the closure of the school having a “detrimental effect on community / local businesses / the church / history of the school’ and “the majority want to keep the school open” referred to 705 times.

Other comments included concern about job losses, Wrexham Council only being concerned with the town centre, concern that people are being forced to speak Welsh and how Ysgol Cynddelw would cope with the extra capacity.

However the report due before councillors next week, states: “Having explored the options available to the Federation, to ensure sustainability in the immediate future, providing the most effective and efficient education services to the pupils of the Ceiriog Valley, Members are asked to consider the responses received and the resulting recommendations.

“There is a growing Welsh medium demand in the Ceiriog Valley and the English medium numbers are dropping as a consequence at both Ysgol Pontfadog and within the Ysgol Cynddelw English medium stream.

“Sustainability has become a significant issue within the Federation and other models for delivery need to be explored.

“There are currently just 18 pupils accessing Ysgol Pontfadog; this model is not sustainable.

“There is a requirement to make teaching and learning as effective and as efficient as possible whilst enhancing the learning experiences of the pupils in larger social groups.”

A decision on the future of Ysgol Pontfadog will be made by executive board members on Tuesday 7th August at 10am. The meeting is open to the public and can also be viewed via the council’s webcasting system.