CONCERNS have been raised about the long-term future of Chepstow School amid delayed redevelopment and the resignation of its headteacher.

Conservative councillor Paul Pavia called for clarity on Monmouthshire County Council’s infrastructure investment in the school at a council meeting last week.

In October, cabinet agreed to defer plans for a new-build Chepstow School until a new third phase of its 21st Century Schools programme, which is planned to start in 2024.

READ MORE: Approval for plans to build new school in Abergavenny before Chepstow

The decision was influenced by uncertainties surrounding the impact of the abolition of Severn Crossing tolls, and the knock-on effect on the housing market.

And last month, the school’s head teacher of more than six years, Claire Price, announced that she would be stepping down.

Speaking on Thursday, Cllr Pavia said: “Despite good A-level results and GCSE results over the summer, there is community concern about the long-term future of the school in light of the cabinet’s capital programme decision and most recently, the resignation of a high-profile head teacher.”

Councillor Richard John, cabinet member for young people, told Cllr Pavia that the council had spent £200,000 on new IT equipment for the school last year.

The investment has paid for 238 pieces of equipment – laptops, desktops and iPads – for students and 85 new laptops for teachers.

A further £50,000 paid for new windows in the main building and music block, with a further £58,000 provided for the school to spend as they wish.

Cllr John also referenced the school’s financial health, having finished the 2017/18 financial year with a £158,900 surplus budget – the only Monmouthshire secondary school to end the year in the black.

“Clearly this will also provide opportunities for investment,” added Cllr John.

The meeting heard that Cllr John had overseen the completion of the £90 million new-build schools at Caldicot and Monmouth during the 21st Century Schools programme’s first phase.

A project team is due to develop a business case for projects in Abergavenny in the autumn, but Cllr John underlined the authority’s commitment to Chepstow.

“The policy of this administration is absolutely unequivocal, we have a four-school redevelopment policy and we’re halfway through that,” he said.

“I recognise that Chepstow has a number of challenges in the near future. I met with the new [interim] head, Mike Coady, over the summer.

“I have every confident that working alongside the Education Achievement Service, partners here in the local authority and the governing body, that he will be able to provide the strong leadership that Chepstow needs to lay foundations of future success.”