Campaign to save ‘smallest school’ from closure fails
A BID to get decision-makers to reconsider plans to close Rhondda Cynon Taf’s (RCT) smallest school has failed. The decision to close Rhigos Primary School and move pupils to Hirwaun Primary School went before a special overview and scrutiny committee on Wednesday to consider a “call-in” proposal which urged the cabinet to reconsider the proposals – but the committee voted not to refer it back.
Cabinet approved the closure in April due to the falling numbers of pupils at the school. This was despite nearly 1,500 public objections which raised concerns about transport and travel, the impact on pupils, staff and parents and carers, finance and effective financial management, alternative options and the legitimacy of the consultation process.
The call-in was signed by Plaid Cymru councillors Adam Rogers and Danny Grehan and Conservative councillor Sam Trask. One of the reasons given for the call-in was the need to further consider the negative impact of the proposal for pupils and the wider community of Rhigos The councillors arugued there was a need to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the potential impact of the decision both positive and negative, adding there was a need to further scrutinise the decision in light of the volume of objections received and suggesting transparency omitted objections should be made available to ensure open scrutiny.
Director of education Gaynor Davies said that the results of the consultations and the objections had been shared appropriately. She acknowledged there has been strong feeling about the school closure which is inevitably challenging saying “we understand that.”
She said numbers attending the school have been in steady decline, adding that projections demonstrate that numbers are “very highly likely” to decline over the next five years.
The director highlighted how numbers had dropped from the start of the consultation from 51 to 46 when the cabinet report was written, then reducing to 44, but said they’re not highlighting it as a poorly-performing school adding “It is a school that has been deemed a good school.”
She said Hirwaun Primary School is not on the cusp of special measures but that it was placed in a statutory category
Local Democracy Reporter in 2019 and was swiftly removed from that. She said both schools are accessing core support and not enhanced support adding that Hirwaun is “performing positively.”
Ms Davies added they have to ensure they have sufficient school places in the right location in the county borough and review surplus places and to not take appropriate action would cause “significant issues” and impact the financial viability of the school and children’s education.
Councillor Scott Emanuel said: “It’s clearly a very emotive subject.” adding the move was being made not to save money but “to ensure the viability and sustainability of education for pupils in the area.”
Cllr Emanuel said the detail poses a “clear rationale” and that the information was “robust and adequate” enough for them to make an informed decision.
Councillor Ros Davis said: “We all understand how passionate people feel about this” adding “It is clearly a good school.”
But she said the council has to look much more broadly about how it delivers education for all. Cllr Daves said she was glad that the director of education made it clear that Hirwaun is not on the cusp of special measures and that Estyn had said the education would be “at least as good” which she felt needs to be emphasised.
Cllr Davis said she is “generally satisfied” that all the information has been put in front of cabinet, the council and scrutiny and said that “the important thing now is to move on and start preparing our children for this transition and start looking at it in a positive light.”
Councillor Susan Morgans said as a parent and grandparent she sympathises with families in Rhigos and that she had experienced two closures in her area. She said the children had better education and better opportunities as well as larger circles of friends. She said: “It might seem like doom and gloom but there is light at the end of the tunnel.”
She said it had worked out for the two schools in her area and she would like to be positive and think this could work out for Rhigos Primary School too.