Schools given lifeline (From Free Press Series)

Schools given lifeline

A LIFELINE could be given to schools in the villages of Llanfoist, Govilon and Llanover which are threatened with closure.

Monmouthshire county council cabinet agreed that in view of the changes which have happened in the area since their strategic review of primary education started, a new member panel should be set up.

This means a review of the schools at Govilon, Llanfoist and Llanover will begin in September, and the panel will either confirm the original decisions regarding their future, or revise them.

The first consultation document, called the Orange Book, recommended a new district school should be built at Llanfoist, closing the village schools of Govilon, Llanfair Kilgeddin, Llanover and Llanellen.

The council later decided to allow Llanfair Kilgeddin to remain open until at least 2008. Llanellen school governors decided to call it a day when their numbers fell dramatically and the school closed in July 2002.

But the full council, meeting in July 2002 over-ruled the recommendation regarding a new school at Llanfoist, and opted to go for extensions to be built at Govilon Primary School, and close Llanfoist school instead.

This provoked a furious backlash from Llanfoist parents who have been planning a careful campaign ever since to over-turn this decision.

In a report to the council's cabinet last week, Cllr Mike Smith, the member for lifelong learning said: "It is recommended that a new member panel be set up in September and this would take stock of developments over the two years since the original consultation and new and further evidence which has arisen since then, including revised funding streams."

Cllr Andre Arkell said he welcomed the direction of the Assembly in indicating that all the contents of the Orange Book should be reviewed.

He added: "It will hopefully bring about a good level of debate."