Three schools face uncertain future (From Free Press Series)

Three schools face uncertain future

Three Torfaen schools face closure under council plans for the future of primary education in the borough.

A total of 19 schools were assessed on the quality of teaching, pupil performance and the number of surplus places in a huge primary school review earlier this year.

Now Torfaen council's education department has earmarked Brookfield School in Cwmbran, Pentwyn School in Abersychan and Ponthir School for closure by July 2006.

Pupils from Ponthir were at the cabinet meeting singing their own carol, protesting against their school's proposed closure.

Despite strong feeling surrounding the issue the cabinet voted to go ahead with the consultation, with eight out of ten votes in favour.

Abersychan Councillor Gwyneira Clark and Councillor Margaret Pead for Llanyrafon South voted against the proposal.

The council report also suggests the amalgamation of Griffithstown junior and infant schools, Woodlands junior and infant schools and New Inn Infant and Green Lawn Juniors by September 2006 and a new primary school for Blaenavon.

This weekend Ponthir pupils decorated a special Christmas tree with specially created baubles with words wishing for their school to stay open.

Monmouth MP Huw Edwards was at the meeting to back his constituents. He said: "I have put a letter to cabinet making the case for Ponthir and I am disappointed that they didn't propose a deferral pending a re-calculation of the surplus places. I will continue to do anything I can and keep fighting against closure."

The council has estimated there will be 2,500 empty desks in Torfaen by 2008 - one in four primary school places.

The report says Brookfield School has budget difficulties, falling pupil numbers and has operated without a deputy head teacher for considerable time.

Pentwyn school has 53 percent surplus places and one of the oldest school buildings in the borough.

Ponthir School will have 44 percent surplus places within three years, and is being subsidised by £20,000 a year.

Director of Education Mike de Val said that school closures weren't 'exclusively about saving money'. He added that a 'significant proportion' of money saved would be earmarked for re-investment in schools.

Mr de Val said: "We have a vision about what we want to achieve, but there will be some challenging steps along the way.

Councillor John Turner, cabinet member for education, admitted the proposals would prove unpopular.

"We have thought very carefully about this and on every count there is alternative quality primary education available in the area of each school."

He added: "It is the result of a detailed consideration of the facts and figures for each school and the over-riding imperative is to make the best use of our resources."