Conwy schools shake up - Llanfairfechan area

Jun 17 2010 by Rayyan Parry, North Wales Weekly News

Llanfairfechan infants and Pant y Rhedyn juniors will form one through-school on either a new site or the existing Pant y Rhedyn site.

Town councillor and former Ysgol Babanod pupil Ray Jones said the changes are a once in a lifetime opportunity.

“The education would improve because they could have the latest technology and modern facilities, improve sports and mother and toddler facilities. To build two schools on the same site would be a huge save rather than maintaining two sites.”

Pant y Rhedyn’s chair of governors Andrew Hinchliff said: “It would make a more efficient school managed for the 21st century.

“All school numbers are dropping. Our budgets are going to be slashed. Why have two lots of administration for schools in one town? If we’ve got a good, modern school, we could have 50-60 children come from out of the town.”

William Legge of community development trust Cwmni Penllan added: “As long as it’s an increase in services, it’s a good idea. If it’s just an amalgamation to save money, it could seriously affect educational values.”

One former Babanod pupil writing on the town’s online forum said the plans were ridiculous: “The bulk of Llanfairfechan's population lives in the upper village, and to make those youngsters travel all the way to Pant-y-Rhedyn, crossing that dangerous main road, is not on. If it ever came to pass, all the parents involved should refuse to send their children to that school.

“Go on strike and make a national issue of it, embarrass the official concerned so much as to force them to resign from their lucrative position and reopen Babanod.”

Head at Pant y Rhedyn Matthew Jones said: “Any plans the county have will fully involve the community.”

Ysgol Babanod refused to comment.