Conwy Schools shake up - Consultation C

Jun 24 2010 by Ian Hughes, North Wales Weekly News

Proposals could affect Abergele schoolsMochdre schools

CONSULTATION C (action between 2013-14)

ALTHOUGH not as imminently at risk as schools in the Conwy Valley, those in and around Abergele do face changes in the next few years.

Consultation C in the council’s draft strategy covers five schools over three sites in the area.

Two options have been proposed for Ysgol Glan Gele and Ysgol St Elfod. One would be for an all-through school on the existing two sites, while the other would be for no change at all.

Mayor of Abergele Malcolm Medlicott is a governor at Glan Gele and was full of praise for the schools.

“It’s difficult as you have three schools in such a small area. As it stands, the heads are excellent and all schools have good results,” he said.

“The council wants to save on administration but things are working perfectly at the moment. They recently went to an awards ceremony in London, the Times Education Supplement Schools Awards.

“It is difficult when you have a winning formula and then need to change it. I just know this change will not take place overnight.”

Nearby Ysgol St George will potentially also come under the same administration as Glan Gele and St Elfod.

Cllr Ron Peacock is on the board at St George. His primary concern is for the pupils.

“I don’t want to see anything taken away from the children. They are the future of Abergele.”

He added: “The young children of the town deserve the best, but the job is to protect the interests of everyone involved.”

He also pointed out that the school has just gone to great lengths to employ a new headmaster.

“That seems like it might be a lot of effort wasted,” he said.

Two schools in the Towyn area will have similar options under the proposals. Option one for Ysgol y Foryd and Ysgol Maes Owen is and all-through school on the existing sites, but nobody was concerned enough to comment when the Weekly News approached the school this week.

Mochdre’s junior school Ysgol Cystennin on the Old Highway, as well as the infant school Ysgol Babanod Llanfairfechan, are also included in the process. The three options are: one school on one site, one school separated on two sites, or no change to the current format.

Cllr Adrian Tansley doesn’t believe either school is under threat, but said how important both were to the community.

“I don’t think anything of this strategy, I think they will stay as they are. The worst scenario I can see is they will have one headteacher,” said Cllr Tansley.

“No one needs to panic. I’ve looked at the plan, we had a governors’ meeting last night and it’s going to be 2013 before we even look at it.

“They are very good schools, the reports are good, the curriculum is great, you can’t fault either of them.

“They are very important to the people of Mochdre and the children lover the schools.”

AREAS FOR REVIEW BETWEEN 2012-2015

Ysgolion Glan Morfa (Abergele), Llanddulas, Betws-y-Coed, Betws-yn-Rhos, Bod Alaw (Colwyn Bay), Llangelynnin (Henryd), Porth-y-Felin (Conwy), Dolwyddelan, Eglwysbach, Glan Conwy, Morfa Rhianedd (Llandudno), Llanddoged and Llandrillo-yn-Rhos (Rhos on Sea).

NO REQUIREMENT FOR ORGANISATIONAL CHANGE

Ysgolion Pen-y-Bryn (Colwyn Bay), Craig-y-Don (Llandudno), Deganwy, Llannefydd, Cynfran (Llysfaen) and Glanwydden.