Schools 'deeply concerned' with Powys sixth form plans
The governing bodies of Ysgol Llanfyllin and Welshpool High School have released a joint statement saying both schools 'neither the interests of our learners or our communities' will benefit from one of the proposed plans regarding the future of Powys sixth forms.
Powys Council is undertaking a review of post-16 education in Powys under which one option would be to close all English-medium sixth forms in the county and replace them with two new large-scale colleges in Newtown and Brecon.
Governors of the Welshpool and Llanfyllin schools, which make up 29 percent of Powys sixth form pupils, have requested that stakeholders challenge 'both the methodology and outcomes' of the review.
The joint statement said: 'Both governing bodies are aware and fully support the review of post-16 education in Powys; however, for the review to have such a considered outcome and openly declared preferred option, before directly considering the needs of learners and communities in North Powys, is very much placing the cart before the horse.
'Both governing bodies feel unable to support the preferred option and encourage other north Powys stakeholders to consider a similar approach.
'Beyond simply leaving Welsh Medium provision to one of the smallest providers, there is no coherent plan to address the key reasons for the lack of a broad Welsh Medium, post-16 curriculum in north Powys.
'The plan makes no consideration of the ease of access and close proximity of several well established and stable post-16 providers, which are available to northern Powys pupils a short distance across the border.
'No consideration has been given to the risk of an increased migration of north Powys pupils across the border, which could reduce the size of Powys 6th Form by as much as a third.
'No consideration has been given to how a decline in pupil numbers—caused by post-16 students choosing to attend provision in Newtown or across the border—might affect the viability of existing schools in north Powys.'
The statement also called for better engagement with the schools before any decision is made, asking the Council to engage 'in a meaningful way' with schools, their senior leaders and governing bodies.
Ysgol Llanfyllin's Chair of Governers added: 'A 'town hall meeting', arranged after declaring a preferred option, is neither a credible nor meaningful consultation with key stakeholders.'
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