Councillors are to consider the future of primary school with just 9 pupils

COUNCILLORS have been urged to consider all factors after commissioning a review to consider the future of a primary school.

With potential options to be drawn up by November, Gwynedd Council’s cabinet will then consider the fate of Ysgol Abersoch, which has only nine pupils.

Despite being rated “good” following its previous inspection, in 2017, the 34-capacity school, which serves pupils aged between three and eight, has only two nursery and seven full-time children on the register.

Last Tuesday, members rubber-stamped the commissioning of a review with a promise that officers would adhere to the Welsh Government’s Schools Organisation Code.

The code is designed to protect smaller rural schools, but despite Abersoch not being designated as a rural area, officers confirmed it would be treated as such.

But responding to the report, the local councillor was adamant that the drop in pupils had “nothing to do with the quality of education” and that numbers were known to increase as well as fall.

Cllr Dewi Wyn Roberts noted: “The circumstances that have brought the pupil numbers down, and thus bringing the school to the attention of this process, have been sudden, and have nothing to do with the quality of education provision at the school, and has been out of the hands of the school.

“The report mentions numbers have declined over recent years but does not acknowledge the increase in numbers between 2013 and 2017 (a 40% increase), which shows numbers can change sharply over two years.

“It is important to highlight this as it will be a public report and therefore parents who may send pupils to Ysgol Abersoch may get the wrong impression that this situation has happened because of the school’s performance.

“It is important that the cabinet member and the education department are aware of my views and that I expect the department to bring various options to the board, in conjunction with governors, staff and parents before a final decision is made on the issue.

“I am confident following a presentation by Education Department Officers at the school this will happen.”

Its expected that a follow-up report containing the various options for the future of the school will be presented to the cabinet next month.