MP weighs in on small school closure 

Montgomeryshire’s MP, Steve Witherden, has weighed in on the row over the proposed closure of a village school with just 25 pupils.

Powys County Council has now published its Consultation Report on the proposed closure of Ysgol Bro Cynllaith in Llansilin, with the view that no original options nor alternative options address the challenges facing the school aside from closure.

Last year, Mr Witherden, a teacher by trade, submitted a collective response on behalf of constituents in opposition to the closure of the school.

Having seen how a model of federating small rural schools can be successful, Mr Witherden advocated for the school to remain open in federation with neighbouring primary schools.

He said: “I am saddened to share that Powys County Council has rejected alternatives to the closure of Ysgol Bro Cynllaith following consultation with parents and staff. Primary schools are the heart of many of our rural villages and I know this will be a great loss for the community.

“Last November, I argued that the school should be kept open via federation with neighbouring primary schools. This means keeping the same number of schools, but sharing a Governing Body and headteacher, whose salary is the biggest cost for a primary school by far.

“I have seen this model work in other rural areas like the Dee Valley and Dyffryn Ceiriog. When Froncystylle, Garth, and Pentre schools federated, they reduced their salary costs by two-thirds.

“This can be done via consultation, or when a headteacher naturally moves job or retires, an approach I am in favour of.

“Having engaged with many school closures and restructurings in my time as a teacher trade unionist, I have always advocated for a federation model as the best way to avoid disruption to pupils, save money, and keep our rural primary schools open so that children can have a great education on their doorstep.

“It is a shame this path was not chosen for Ysgol Bro Cynllaith but I will continue to make the case for federating rural schools with the Local Authority and indeed with Welsh Government.”

Powys County Council is proposing to close Ysgol Bro Cynllaith in Llansilin and carried out a six-week consultation on the proposal between October and November 2024.

As part of the proposal, Powys-based pupils would transfer to the nearest alternative school in Powys, which, for most, would be Ysgol Gynradd Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant.

The findings of the consultation will be considered on Tuesday, February 18, by the Cabinet who will also be asked to continue with the process to close the school.

Our previous story on the closure is here.