Agenda item

As detailed in the recommendation numbers 1 and 2 and 3 being replaced with:

That Cabinet proceed to a formal statutory consultation on the closure of Ysgol Llanfynydd.

Councillor Chris Bithell provided details of the responses from the statutory consultation period for Ysgol Llanfynydd.  The proposal to enter into formal consultation on closure was approved in June 2015 on the basis of criteria laid down in the Council’s School Modernisation Strategy which were: Unfilled places across the primary school portfolio; diminishing resource criteria and small school criteria. 

            Any school review was sensitive and emotive however the Council was challenged with balancing community feeling with providing a high quality education offer which could be sustained and afforded.

            The governing body of Ysgol Llanfynydd had not been able to secure a willing partnering school or schools with which to pursue a federation which had been suggested by a number of consultees.

            The Council would take all practicable steps to ease the transition for all pupils, most especially for vulnerable learners such as those with Additional Learning Needs (ALN).  It would work alongside pupils, their parents and the relevant schools to make appropriate transition arrangements for pupils to familiarise themselves with their new environments.

            In its consultation documents the Council had demonstrated that there was sufficient capacity within the local school network to accommodate pupils from Ysgol Llanfynydd should it close, which was a view that was upheld by Estyn in its response.  Additional places could be established at Ysgol Parc Y Llan, Treuddyn, at either no cost or minimal cost for that school to be available to all current pupils at Ysgol Llanfynydd.

            Transport eligibility would be determined by the Authority in which the pupil resided and 17 pupils who lived in Flintshire would be entitled to free home to school transport based on the assumption that they would transfer to their nearest school of Ysgol Parc Y Llan.

            Comments on the consultation which had been presented to the Education and Youth Overview and Scrutiny Committee were appended to the report.

            The Chief Officer (Education and Youth) said there was a lot of affection from the community for this local school and no proposals were made without care and attention to the resilience in the area for those that would be affected.

            On resources, he explained that the net saving that could be achieved if the proposal to close Ysgol Llanfynydd was £83,392pa.  The estimated costs of transport as a result of the proposals were £16,150 however actual transport costs could only be fully assessed once all families had chosen their preferred school.

            He provided details on each of the documents appended to the report, which were: compliance statement; consultation report; Estyn response; statutory proposal anticipated timeline and comments raised by the Education and Youth Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

            In response to questions from Councillor Kevin Jones, the Chief Officer explained that no proposals for a federation had been received and that all pupils could be accommodated at Ysgol Parc Y Llan.

            Councillor Butler sought assurance that pupils with ALN would be eased into the transition to which the Chief Officer confirmed they would, with that support being extended to all pupils. 

            Councillor Shotton asked if there was still an opportunity for the proposal of a federation to be submitted prior to the report being considered again at Cabinet in April 2016.  The Chief Officer responded that if a viable federation proposal was submitted, that could be considered by Cabinet.  He explained that following the meeting today, a statutory notice would be issued for a 28 day period for submission of any objections.  The deadline for objections would be 26 February 2016.  The objection report would then be published within 28 days and to Cabinet within 35 days with a report being submitted to the next available meeting being on 19 April 2016.

            The Chief Executive added that discussion on a possible federation and timeline also applied to the next agenda item, School Organisation – Ysgol Maes Edwin.  At Cabinet on 19 April 2016 the report would recommend either implementation of the school closure or to withdraw the statutory proposals and substitute with an alternative should a viable proposition be put forward.  The current status quo was not a sustainable option and a feasible alternative would need to be submitted with formal proposal from two or more schools to form a federation, which would need to be in the best interest of the schools and pupils.

            A subsequent discussion took place on agenda item number 10, School Organisation – Ysgol Maes Edwin where a formal additional resolution was agreed as follows: “That if a detailed business case for a federation is received by the end of February 2016 Cabinet will consider it alongside the outcome of the statutory consultation process at is meeting on 19 April 2016”.

RESOLVED:

(a)       That the responses from the statutory consultation period for Ysgol Llanfynydd be considered;

(b)       That the comments from the Education and Youth Overview and Scrutiny Committee and the evidence and analysis provided by officers within the reports be considered; and

(c)       That Cabinet proceed to a formal statutory consultation on the closure of Ysgol Llanfynydd.