13 December 2007

Gwynedd Primary Schools Organisation

Gwynedd Councillors have approved a recommendation to undertake a period of consultation on the draft recommendations outlined in the schools reorganisation report. 

The Full Council (13 December) decision means that the Council can now move forward to the next phase of the re-organisation process with local level consultation beginning in January 2008.

The report approved by the Full Council incorporates a number of constructive improvements put forward by local and national groups since the original report was published in October. 

Council Leader, Councillor Richard Parry Hughes said:

“The Full Council’s decision is one important step in a process to deliver on our aim of keeping open as many sustainable community primary schools as possible. 

“For the first time, Gwynedd has a strategic county-wide blue-print and can now move forward to start a consultation process on these proposals with individual communities.  It should be remembered that this vote is for consultation on the proposals, and should not be misinterpreted as a vote for closure or the establishment of area or federal schools.

“The aim of the plan is to ensure that the limited resources available to the Council are invested in educating children rather than empty places and unfit buildings and maintaining as many school sites in rural areas as possible by introducing federal schools.

“The proposal to create federal schools is based on the key aim of maintaining the presence of as many schools as possible within our communities, whilst also providing children with access to a wide range of educational experiences, easing head teacher work load, and improving career prospects for teachers.  

“Under the federal system children will attend the same school sites but with the additional benefit of a non–contact head teacher responsible for the managerial aspect of running the school and release classroom teachers to teach.  Additional funding will be provided to maintain these schools. 

“The decision is a vote to give individual communities the opportunity to present their views on what is being proposed for their area, and I very much hope that this process will allow for creative and mature discussion and clear recommendations for the way forward.”

Gwynedd Council’s Strategic Director – Development Iwan Trefor Jones added:

“In March 2006, the Full Council clearly declared that the status quo is not an option if we want to continue to deliver the highest possible standard of education for every primary school child in Gwynedd. 

“The evidence in support of this view is overwhelming.  Pupil numbers have decreased by over 9% since 1996, and are forecast to fall by a further 9% over the next decade. As a result, the money Gwynedd receives to spend on primary education is also falling.

“At the same time, the amount Gwynedd spends on 2,400 empty primary school places stands at £850,000 and is expected to increase to £1.2million per year over the next few years, and it is estimated that £16million would be needed to bring all 106 Gwynedd school buildings up to the minimum standards needed to deliver the new school curriculum.

“If the proposals are implemented, 70% of Gwynedd’s primary school children will benefit from an increase in the allocation of funding invested in their education, £30 million will be invested in the development of eight new area schools whilst further funding and money currently spent on unsuitable buildings will be ploughed into maintaining and improving remaining school buildings to a high standard.”

The vote was at follows:
In favour 42
Against 23
Abstained 5

The report approved by the Full Council recommends establishing three area schools on existing school sites, building eight new area schools on new sites, establishing 18 federal schools based on 55 existing school sites and leaving 19 schools unchanged.  This would mean that Gwynedd would have a total of 48 schools located on 85 sites rather than the present 106 sites.

The time-table for reporting back to the Full Council is as follows:

May / June 2008       
The Council to consider general consultation outcomes on objective, aims and strategy of the Draft Scheme, prior to giving final approval;     
September / October 2008       
The Full Council to consider consultation outcomes on Category A proposals of the Scheme, and if is there is support, direct the Service to issue statutory notices of intention to close the schools concerned. During this meeting, a final decision will be taken by the Council on schools in Category A.  
September / October 2009       
The Full Council to consider consultation outcomes on proposals for Category B in the Scheme, and if there is support, direct the Service to issue relevant statutory notices. At this meeting, a final decision will be taken by the Council on Schools in Category B.
September / October 2010       
The Full Council to consider consultation outcomes on proposals for Category C1 in the Scheme, and if there is support, direct the Service to issue relevant statutory notices. At this meeting, a final decision will be taken by the Council on Schools in Category C1.
September / October 2011       
The Full Council to decide onconsultation outcomes on proposals for Category C2 of the Scheme, and if there is support, direct the Service to issue relevant statutory notices. At this meeting, a final decision will be taken by the Council on Schools in Category C2.
September / October 2012       
The Full Council to decide onconsultation outcomes on proposals for Category C3 of the Scheme, and if there is support, direct the Service to issue relevant statutory notices. At this meeting, a final decision will be taken by the Council on Schools in Category C3.     

 See the demonstration here