Powys sixth form college proposals criticised by councillors
The options will be subject to an "engagement" process which will allow people to give their views on the proposals over the next six months.Council education staff stressed the current model with all schools having their own sixth form was not "financially viable".The need to address post-16 provision has also been highlighted by education watchdog Estyn in a scathing report on the department published in March.One option could see a sixth form college set up with one board of governors and management team across two sites in Brecon and Newtown.Similarly, a sixth form college would be based across Welsh medium all-through schools at Ysgol Bro Hyddgen in Machynlleth, Bro Caereinion in Llanfair Caereinion and potentially Builth Wells.The Welsh medium sixth form would be run separately.
Crickhowell has the biggest sixth form in Powys with many pupils coming from Monmouthshire and Blaenau Gwent."Crickhowell sixth form is operating incredibly successfully, bringing in students and funding from across the border and there's no argument to say that we should be closing it," Masefield said. She warned "every single person in the area of Crickhowell" would object to the proposals.Council Conservative group leader Aled Davies, who represents Llansilin and Llanrhaedr-ym-Mochnant, said he was concerned at the "lack of vision" of what Powys education could look like in 15 to 20 years' time.Davies said successful sixth forms could be "swept up and lost" and that the work should focus on those sixth forms with small pupil numbers.Sue McNicholas, who represents Ynyscedwyn near Ystradgynlais, said the area would lose pupils "in droves" across the border. Plaid Cymru's Bryn Davies who represents Banwy, Llanfihangel and Llanwddyn, said for many school pupils in the north of Powys, Newtown is a distant place.He said: "The only central location in the north I can see at the moment for this is in Welshpool, which was the old (Montgomeryshire) county town."It would be much more suitable for an English medium sixth form."He asked whether this could be put forward as a potential option to be considered.
Dr Richard Jones, director of education, told the committee there had been "thorough engagement" ahead of the model being introduced and that "learning from that" had been taken onboard.Dr Jones said: "That's provided us with a framework for three options to go out to engagement". He said he believed going out to engagement without options would take the council "back to that pre Powys Sixth point", which was rolled out in 2022 with a focus on collaboration between schools.Recommendations from the committee will be added to the report which is expected to go before the Liberal Democrat and Labour cabinet for a decision later this month to start the engagement process.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South Wales Argus
an hour ago
- South Wales Argus
Cardiff Capital Region wants action on Severn Bridge limit
Vehicles weighing 7.5 tonnes and more have been barred from crossing the bridge, that spans the Severn from Aust to Chepstow, since Tuesday, May 27 and Monmouthshire County Council has warned it fears firms could relocate from Chepstow without continued easy access to the motorway network. Now members of the Cardiff Capital Region, which is the joint committee for the 10 unitary authorities in South East Wales, say they will look to support Monmouthshire's calls for a solution. Councillor Robert Bevan, who chairs its overview and scrutiny committee, promised to 'take the issue up' after it was raised at its meeting this week. The Labour member of Rhondda Cynon Taf Council said: 'Time is of the essence, we can't wait. I can certainly say I will take this up further and see what we can do.' He said the M48 bridge, at Chepstow, as well as the M4 and the Prince of Wales Bridge is a vital connection for the region's economy and key industries: 'We must emphasise it's not just Monmouthshire that will feel the impact but the rest of South Wales will feel it as well. 'We have deliveries come from the Midlands area, there's lots of companies in the automotive sector and aerospace which is built around Severnside and Filton.' Simon Griffiths, Labour councillor for Bridgend, noted the long term solution to strengthen the 1960s built suspension bridge's cables is estimated to cost between £300 million to £600m. He said it needed to be the 'top regional transport priority' for the body whose main functions are planning transport across the region and how land is used as well as growing the economy, including the Western Gateway project that involves councils across South Wales and the south west of England. Cllr Griffiths said: 'This really could damage any growth we see in South Wales.' Monmouthshire council's Labour representative on the body, Chepstow member Armand Watts who raised the bridge restriction at the meeting, said it's estimated up to 2,500 jobs in the town could be impacted. He also said the weight limit has scuppered plans for the Severnside area in Wales to rival the economic growth seen on the English bank. 'We had the opportunity to replicate what they've done in South Gloucestershire and Bristol where there are 9,000 jobs. I would say that's an economic hotspot.' Cllr Watts also complained the South East Wales Trunk Road Agency has 'not said anything publicly' about the weight limit and said it has been down to Monmouthshire to argue its case with the UK Government, which is responsible for both bridges over the Severn via National Highways. 'Our cabinet member was given 15 minutes with the junior minister, the minister for future highways, and that's it,' said Cllr Watts who also complained a working group has been set up 'without any elected members to decide our future.' Cllr Watts, who represents Bulwark and Thornwell, said his ward is only nine miles from the M4/M5 interchange, north of Bristol, which he said should allow it to benefit from the city's economic growth and said: 'I really hope you can show some solidarity with poor old Monmouthshire on this.' National Highways has previously said it is anticipated the weight restriction is expected to be in place for 12 to 18 months as a short term measure while it considers how it could allow vehicles over 7.5 tonnes to cross the bridge in a managed system as a medium-term solution.
The National
18 hours ago
- The National
Stephen Flynn says Labour's fiscal regime 'destroying Scottish jobs'
According to reports, Reeves is set to discuss clean energy just a few miles from the long delayed Scottish Acorn Carbon Capture project at St Fergus despite billions continuing to be poured into English industries and energy projects. In May, Harbour Energy in Aberdeen cut 250 onshore jobs, citing the Energy Profits Levy (EPL) as the reason. READ MORE: Chancellor Rachel Reeves visits Scotland to promote defence and energy plans The firm, which has been a vocal critic of the EPL since its introduction in 2022, blamed 'the Government's ongoing punitive fiscal position and a challenging regulatory environment'. Following the nationalisation of Scunthorpe Steel, billions spent thus far on English nuclear power plants and the saved Prax refinery in Lincolnshire, SNP Westminster Leader Stephen Flynn has warned Rachel Reeves must protect Scottish jobs and change the damaging fiscal regime. Commenting, Flynn said: "The Labour Party appear to have an ideological desire to sink the North Sea with a fiscal regime that is clearly costing jobs and investment, while putting at risk both energy security and the ability to actually deliver a meaningful energy transition. READ MORE: Call for community ownership of forests to combat corporate influence 'Meantime, the very same Labour Party are happily flying in behind new airports for London and have been all too keen to write blank cheques for a steel plant in Scunthorpe, a nuclear power station at Sizewell and an oil refinery in Lincolnshire. "The challenge for Rachel Reeves today is simple – end a fiscal regime that is destroying Scottish jobs and finally tell us how her Government intend to deliver on that pre-election promise to lower energy bills by £300. "This week the SNP Scottish Government approved the colossal Berwick Bank offering a mere glimpse into what is possible in Scotland, just imagine what we could do in an independent country that puts Scottish energy jobs and lower bills first at every turn."
The National
20 hours ago
- The National
Stephen Flynn says fiscal regime 'destroying Scottish jobs'
According to reports, Reeves is set to discuss clean energy just a few miles from the long delayed Scottish Acorn Carbon Capture project at St Fergus despite billions continuing to be poured into English industries and energy projects. In May, Harbour Energy in Aberdeen cut 250 onshore jobs, citing the Energy Profits Levy (EPL) as the reason. READ MORE: Chancellor Rachel Reeves visits Scotland to promote defence and energy plans The firm, which has been a vocal critic of the EPL since its introduction in 2022, blamed 'the Government's ongoing punitive fiscal position and a challenging regulatory environment'. Following the nationalisation of Scunthorpe Steel, billions spent thus far on English nuclear power plants and the saved Prax refinery in Lincolnshire, SNP Westminster Leader Stephen Flynn has warned Rachel Reeves must protect Scottish jobs and change the damaging fiscal regime. Commenting, Flynn said: "The Labour Party appear to have an ideological desire to sink the North Sea with a fiscal regime that is clearly costing jobs and investment, while putting at risk both energy security and the ability to actually deliver a meaningful energy transition. READ MORE: Call for community ownership of forests to combat corporate influence 'Meantime, the very same Labour Party are happily flying in behind new airports for London and have been all too keen to write blank cheques for a steel plant in Scunthorpe, a nuclear power station at Sizewell and an oil refinery in Lincolnshire. "The challenge for Rachel Reeves today is simple - end a fiscal regime that is destroying Scottish jobs and finally tell us how her Government intend to deliver on that pre-election promise to lower energy bills by £300. "This week the SNP Scottish Government approved the colossal Berwick Bank offering a mere glimpse into what is possible in Scotland, just imagine what we could do in an independent country that puts Scottish energy jobs and lower bills first at every turn."
