THE Plaid Cymru candidate for Torfaen in the 2016 Welsh Assembly elections has outlined his objections to the potential closure of two schools in the borough.

Victoria Primary and Abersychan Brynteg Nursery schools are at risk of closing in 2017 as part of plans from the Welsh Government’s 21st Century Schools programme.

Pontypool-raised Matthew Woolfall Jones, 27, has written a letter to the Torfaen education services, and claims the proposed changes could affect vulnerable children in the borough.

Dr Woolfall Jones highlighted the use of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child in the consultation document, which he claims could be contravened if the plans go ahead.

“The consultation document published by Torfaen County Borough Council on the matter of closing the school states that, ‘should the proposal be implemented, it is believed that the seven core aims on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, will be at least maintained’,” he said.

“It then lists the seven points which states that children ‘are not disadvantaged by poverty’.”

“However, I have made a Freedom of Information Request, under the Freedom of Information Act (2000) which indicates that, with the implementation of Torfaen CBC’s plans, there will be a disadvantage to free school meals (FSM) children,” said Dr Woolfall Jones.

Presently, the ratio of children receiving FSM at Victoria Primary School to full-time teachers is 4:1, compared to 7:1 at Cwmffrwdoer and Garnteg respectively.

“Victoria Primary has a lower ratio of Teachers to FSM pupils, which means that FSM children have more one to-one contact with their teacher,” said Dr Woolfall Jones.

According to the Torfaen candidate, the potential for redundancies in the consultation document is not included in the figures, which would further reduce the ratio.

“This is a direct contravention of the UN Convention of the Rights of a Child, it goes against the theory of 21st Century Schools, and fundamentally flaws the proposal to improve the education, poverty, health and wellbeing of children in Abersychan,” claimed Dr Woolfall Jones.

“I urge Torfaen Council to reconsider, and urge all living in Torfaen to support the fantastic team of parents and staff leading this campaign and sign the petition.”

To sign the petition created by parents from the school, visit http://tinyurl.com/VictoriaVillageSchool.

A Torfaen council spokesman said: 'The statutory consultation period in respect of proposals to close Victoria Primary and Abersychan Brynteg Nursery Schools ended on Monday 4 January 2016.

“The council will publish a consultation report within 13 weeks which will summarise and respond to the issues raised by consulates and sets out Estyn’s view of the overall merits of the proposals.

“The report will be published on the council’s website and those affected by the proposals will be advised of its availability, along with consultees who had requested notification. Hard copies will also be available on request.

“A report will now go to Cabinet during the Spring Term 2016 to determine the next steps for these proposals, and the consultation report will be included.”