Anglesey’s Commissioners have adopted a new framework policy for school modernisation across the county.
Commissioner Gareth Jones, who has responsibility for Education, has stressed that the new framework policy should focus primarily on safeguarding sustainable communities, as well meeting the challenges posed by further school rationalisation.
Mr Jones explained, “As Commissioners, we firmly believe that the new framework provides a solid foundation for further deliberations regarding future education provision on Anglesey. The framework policy will also be developed over time to ensure that the modernisation process helps maintain sustainable communities on Anglesey.”
“There is certainly no one-size fits all answer to problems facing the Island’s schools, but we must rise to the challenge of safeguarding sustainable communities as demanded by the Welsh Government.”
He added, “We must now do our utmost to ensure that communities are on board and that we engage with relevant stakeholders every step of the way.”
The number of surplus places in Anglesey’s schools is very high (26% in primary sector and 22.3% in secondary sector) and continues to burden education resources. A recent Welsh Government report recommended that the national target for surplus places be set at a maximum of 10% with local authorities told to revisit their school rationalisation plans and present them by December 2012.
Recent primary school reorganisation has led to the closure of Ysgol Tŷ Mawr and Ysgol Llandrygarn in August 2010; and Ysgol Aberffraw and Ysgol Llanddeusant will close in August 2011.
However, Anglesey’s Education and Leisure Scrutiny Committee Chairman, Councillor Derlwyn Hughes, stressed, “The new policy framework is not just about the closure of small schools. It’s much more than that, as it seeks long term solutions in developing a modern and contemporary education provision within modern infrastructure that is consistent with the expectations of 21st century schools.”
Anglesey Acting Chief Executive, Richard Parry Jones, added, “The modernisation of our schools remains a top priority for the Authority. Addressing the school modernisation agenda remains central to developing future education services on Anglesey and goes to the core of the Authority’s statutory responsibility of providing our young people with a quality education.”
“However, the decline in pupil numbers cannot go unchecked and we hope that the new framework policy, which takes onboard the views of bodies such as Estyn and Welsh Government, together with its future development through consultation with stakeholders, will provide us with a blueprint for modernisation and ultimately allow us to ensure education provision fit for the 21st century.”
