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Western Telegraph
2 days ago
- General
- Western Telegraph
Catchment area change for Haverfordwest school approved
At Pembrokeshire County Council's Cabinet meeting of June 2, members were asked to amend the school catchment area for Waldo Williams Primary School so that the new school site sits within its boundary. Back in 2019, Waldo Williams Primary School was established and utilised on both of the former school sites for Mount Airey Nursery and Infants School and Haverfordwest Church in Wales VC School after they were previously discontinued. Following a refurbishment of the school building as part of the Council's Sustainable Communities for Learning Programme, Waldo Williams Primary School moved to the former Ysgol Glan Cleddau School site at Scarrowscant Lane, Haverfordwest in February 2022. 'However, the new school site currently sits marginally outside the existing catchment area, and it is logical that this is addressed by amending the catchment boundary,' report for members said. It added: 'It is proposed that, with effect from September 2025: The catchment area for Waldo Williams Primary School is extended marginally eastwards to include the location of the new school site on Scarrowscant Lane with the catchment area for Fenton Community Primary School realigned accordingly.' It concluded: 'It is acknowledged that the school site moved in February 2022, and the catchment area should have been amended at that time, but this was an oversight,' adding: 'There is evidence that no current pupils live in the area subject to the proposed change and extending the catchment area will therefore merely formalise access to the school in the future.' It was recommended that 'Cabinet approves the proposal to extend the catchment area of Waldo Williams Primary School to include the location of the new school site on Scarrowscant Lane, with the catchment area for Fenton Community Primary School realigned accordingly'. Members unanimously backed the recommendation, which had been moved by Cabinet Member for Education and Welsh Language Cllr Guy Woodham.
South Wales Argus
26-05-2025
- General
- South Wales Argus
Trinity Fields School and Resource Centre extension opens
The extension to Trinity Fields School and Resource Centre in Ystrad Mynach was officially opened on Friday, May 23. The two-storey extension provides additional classrooms to accommodate up to an additional 80 pupils with specialist intervention areas, a new soft playroom, and outdoor play spaces. There is also a relocated memorial garden and school allotment area. This project was jointly funded by Caerphilly County Borough Council and Welsh Government through the Sustainable Communities for Learning Programme, which forms part of the council's wider Place Shaping Strategy. The new wing that links to the original school was constructed by Willmott Dixon. This project, which includes the refurbishment of the existing school facilities alongside the new two-storey extension, totalled approximately £18 million. Councillor Carol Andrews, cabinet member for education and communities, said: "This investment is a powerful statement of our shared commitment to giving every child in the county borough the very best start. "The facility has been shaped around the needs and potential of the pupils that attend. "They will help children learn, play and thrive – and I cannot wait to see the amazing things that will be achieved here." Headteacher David Jenkins said: "It has been a privilege to lead the school through this exciting period of change which has resulted in a state of the art, multi-million-pound extension for our pupils, their families and staff. "Today's formal opening is a fitting celebration of the ethos, culture and sheer hard work associated with our school and its partners. "There are too many people to thank individually but on behalf of the school, my sincerest thanks must go to Welsh Government, Caerphilly Council, our governing body, the previous headteacher who started the journey and our principal contractor Wilmott Dixon for making our pupils' dreams a reality."
Leader Live
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Leader Live
Silent protest greets Bishop at centre of catholic super-school plans
Protestors from St David's School Action Group originally planned to picket the meeting - which Bishop Peter Brignall was expected to attend - at St David's Church Hall in Mold. Late last week the venue for the meeting of the Safeguarding Trustee Sub-Committee was changed to Buckley's Our Lady of the Rosary Church. Nevertheless 12 parents and their children stationed themselves outside the church hall in Buckley to express their opposition to plans to close four catholic schools in Flintshire - St David's, St Anthony's in Saltney and St Mary's and St Richard Gwyn in Flint - and replace them with a single super-school for pupils aged three-18. Parents and supporters of St David\'s Catholic Primary School - including chair of governors Emma Baker (right) - conducting their silent protest against plans to close St David's to build a super-school in Flint. (Image: St David's School Action Group) They brandished placards with slogans opposing the school plans and explained their position when asked by members of the committee as they went into the meeting. One pupil was even filmed handing a leaflet explaining parents' opposition to the scheme to the Bishop himself - although he did not stop to speak to the protesters. Silent protest greets Bishop at centre of catholic super-school planshttps:// #Catholicsuperschool #schooclosure #dioceseofwrexham /p> "With the meeting location changed late in the day thankfully we were able to get some of the group to Buckley," said St David's Action Group member Sarah Cunningham. "There was a lot of interest from those attending the meeting, asking why we were there. Surprisingly a number were not aware of the super-school plans and were shocked when we explained what they were. "A number of individuals, including members of the clergy, pledged their support to us. Hopefully it was raised in the meeting too." Read more: The action is the latest in a series of efforts by parents at St David's and St Anthony's to save their schools from closure and force the Diocese and Flintshire County Council to reconsider the plans. According to the proposal 85% of the cost of the £55 million super-school will be funded by the Welsh Government through it's Sustainable Communities for Learning Programme with the remaining 15% coming from the Diocese of Wrexham. The Diocese's contribution will be made by giving up the land at St David's and St Anthony's for development. If the plans go ahead St Anthony's will close in September 2026 with the other three schools closing once the new school is built on the site of St Richard Gwyn and St Mary's. The Diocese of Wrexham was approached for a comment. A public consultation on the plans will be opened on or before June 3 for 42 days.
Leader Live
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Leader Live
Flint catholic super-school funded by taxpayer will be owned by church
Plans to create an all-through catholic super-school in Flint for pupils aged 3-18 are currently preparing to go into consultation amid opposition from parents' groups. The proposal requires the closure of four schools in Flintshire, the catholic primary schools of St David's in Mold, St Anthony's in Saltney and St Mary's in Flint plus the closure of St Richard Gwyn Catholic High School. According to the plans 85% of the cost of the new super-school - £46.75 million - would come from the Welsh Government's Sustainable Communities for Learning Programme with the remaining 15% coming from the Diocese of Wrexham. Parents groups at two of the four schools - St Anthony's and St David's - actively oppose the plans. St David's School Action Group held a protest march last weekend to campaign against the proposals. But at this week's Education, Youth & Culture Overview & Scrutiny Committee, the leader of Flintshire's Liberal Democrat group Cllr Andrew Parkhurst asked who would own the super-school building once completed. "I understand school buildings are owned by the Diocese," he said. "If the new building goes ahead with Welsh Government money then who owns the building? "Is it the council or is it the church? Are we in effect giving away millions to the church?" "It's not always clear-cut but as a rule of thumb the council usually owns the playing fields while the Diocese owns buildings and the land beneath them," said Jennie Williams, Senior Manager, School Planning and Provision for Flintshire County Council. "Once we've built the school we will have to hand back the building. That's how the legal framework of voluntary aided schools runs." Now Welsh Government has confirmed that once taxpayers have funded the school, it would transfer into the ownership of the Diocese. "In the case of voluntary aided schools, the school buildings and land are usually owned by trustees typically the Diocesan," said a Senedd spokesperson. "The Sustainable Communities for Learning Programme supports investment in education infrastructure across Voluntary Aided, Voluntary Controlled and Local Authority maintained schools. In all cases, the asset remains in the ownership of delivery partners following the investment." Read more: WATCH: Supporters of Mold catholic school turn out in force to oppose closure Date set for Flintshire catholic school closure consultation 'Senseless' - Flintshire parents slam catholic super-school report It has also been confirmed that the consultation, which was supposed to open this month, will now be opened no later than Tuesday, June 3. A council spokesperson said: 'The council can confirm that the consultation is scheduled to go live on or before June 3, 2025 and finish before the start of the school summer holidays, subject to the finalisation of the necessary documentation and approvals.' After Flintshire County Council twice postponed the opening of the consultation, parents campaigning to save their schools fear further delaying the timeline restricts their opportunity to make their case. Martina Crocombe is one of the leading advocates to save St Anthony's in Saltney. She has two children art the school, which is scheduled to be the first to close under the plan in September 2026. "These delays have caused yet more uncertainty and show that once again, Flintshire County Council and Wrexham Diocese can't seem to get it right," she said. "There have now been three delays and the reasons for them have not been made clear to the public. These repeated delays raise serious questions about the efficiency and reliability of both the council and the diocese. "The proposed super school idea, which the majority oppose, needs to be scrapped. The parents and community of Saltney will continue to fight this ridiculous idea." Sarah Cunningham, from the St David's School Action Group, said making people wait was making parents anxious. "Waiting longer for the consultation to open causes great concern as we believe it's a deliberate attempt to let all the noise pass and it brings the dates exceedingly close to the summer holidays," she said. "For St Anthony's this could most certainly be seen as tactical as they will have even less time to prepare for the possible closure of the school."
Powys County Times
07-05-2025
- Business
- Powys County Times
Welsh Government approves new building for Powys school
Plans to build a new school near Newtown will be moving forward after being approved by the Welsh Government. As Powys County Council is planning to build a new school tom replace Brynllywarch Hall School's current building, the proposal will be moving forward after a full business case was approved by the Welsh Government. The council have said that the new school, located in Kerry near Newtown, will 'transform education for vulnerable learners' as the school provides education for pupils from 8 to 19-year-olds, with a wide range of complex emotional, behavioural and social difficulties. Cllr Pete Roberts, Cabinet Member for a Learning Powys, said: 'I'm delighted that the Welsh Government has approved our full business case to replace the current Brynllywarch Hall School building. Their decision represents another huge investment in our school infrastructure and will enable construction of the new school building to start. 'The existing building no longer offers a suitable environment for the teaching and support requirements of pupils with significant behavioural, emotional or social difficulties. 'The new school for Brynllywarch would provide an environment where teaching staff can thrive and provide pupils with the facilities that enable their needs to be met their needs giving them a more enjoyable and fulfilling educational experience.' In January 2025 it was reported that the cost of building the new 84 pupil school for Brynllywarch Hall had risen by £3.5 million since the original £9.1 million estimate in 2020. The business case approved by the Welsh Government was submitted after the council's Cabinet gave the go-ahead in February and is the last of the series of three business cases the council is required to prepare to secure capital funding for new build projects. The Welsh Government will contribute 75% of the funding for the new building through its Sustainable Communities for Learning Programme, while the rest will be funded by the council. The council added that when completed the 'community focussed' school will include specialist support and provision for pupils with challenging behaviour, emotional and social difficulties in a modern and innovative learning environment. The council also said that the new school will have learning spaces to deliver the new national curriculum, specialist equipment to support teaching and learning outcomes, as well as a fully equipped class base and outdoor learning area.
