SCHOOL TO MERGE OR CLOSE

Secondary could become home to six Anglesey primaries:

AN Anglesey secondary school faces being amalgamated with local primaries or being shut altogether under proposals unveiled by education chiefs.

Amlwch’s Ysgol Syr Thomas Jones, despite having enough space for 971 pupils, is less than half full with only 479 on the register.

But among the proposals to reduce the number of empty spaces in the area is a plan that would see the building expanded, which would result in the closure of up to six local primary schools with the pupils all moved in to the shared facility.

Alternatively, Ysgol Syr Thomas Jones could shut completely with pupils to attend the other four secondary schools left on the island.

A new school would then be built to replace some or all of the area’s primaries, namely Ysgol Gynradd Amlwch, Ysgol Cemaes, Ysgol Gynradd Garreglefn, Ysgol Gymuned Llanfechell, Ysgol Penysarn and Ysgol Gymuned Rhosybol.

The first purpose built comprehensive school in Britain, Ysgol Syr Thomas Jones opened in 1950 and is mainly a three storey building, with over 1,200 pupils on the books during its 1970s heyday.

Pupil numbers have been hit over the years, however, with the opening of Ysgol Uwchradd Bodedern in 1977 reducing the catchment area as well as the more recent winding down of energy production at the Magnox Wylfa nuclear plant.

The public engagement exercise, while not a formal consultation at this stage, outlines the necessity to look at the Amlwch area due to number of empty spaces found in northern Anglesey in comparison to the rest of the island.

Overall, the average percentage of empty spaces within the Ysgol Syr Thomas Jones catchment area (16%) is the highest on the island compared with 3% for Ysgol Uwchradd Bodedern, 13% at Ysgol Uwchradd Caergybi and 14% at both Ysgol David Hughes and Ysgol Gyfun Llangefni.

As a result, the average spend per pupil attending Ysgol Syr Thomas Jones of £5,607 is higher than the island’s average of £4,874.

Local county councillor Richard Owain Jones urged locals to get involved in the process.

“We should look at this as a chance to bring in some investment to the area and the chance to secure a 21st century facility not only for our children’s education but for the community, and we must remember that nothing is set in stone at this stage.

“If anyone has any ideas of themselves then I’d urge them to make the council aware.

“At the end of the day, it’s chil- dren’s education that we’re talking about and we should ensure that the area is served in the best way possible.

“Whatever happens, I’d like to thank the staff and pupils for their hard work in the past and going forward.”

The review document, compiled by education department officers, notes: “The council faces further Financial pressures over the next 3 years.

“The level of savings required is projected to be [between £6m and £10m over the next three years] and over this period the Learning Service has been asked to identify savings,which equates to approximately 10.5% of the 2018/19 Learning Budget - this will have an effect on school budgets.

“As a result, the spend per pupil will need to be reduced overall, and the variation in spend per pupil across the schools being reviewed will also need to be reduced.”

As part of the review, a series of public drop-in sessions are to be held over the coming weeks with the official engagement period set to run from November 5 to December 2.