Gwynedd Councillors have supported outline proposals for the re-organisation of primary schools in the Tywyn catchment area.
Earlier this year, the Council adopted a new strategy to review primary education across the county to deliver the best possible standard of education for Gwynedd’s children.
As part of this process, the Tywyn catchment-area was the first to be reviewed, and detailed discussions were held locally, with evidence also considered by a range of relevant organisations.
Following this work, the Council’s Education Portfolio Leader, Councillor Liz Saville Roberts presented recommendations for the area.
At the full Council meeting (10 December), Councillors backed the following proposal to take forward to a period of formal consultation in the spring of 2010:
- to establish a new Area School in the Bryncrug or Llanegryn area during the 2013-14 school year. This involves the closure of schools at Abergynolwyn, Bryncrug, Llwyngwril and Llanegryn once the new school is ready.
- to close Ysgol Aberdyfi by September 2011 and to provide places for the children at Ysgol Penybryn, Tywyn.
The Council will also be moving forward to promote co-operation between Ysgol Pennal and Ysgol Dyffryn Dulas, Corris.
Councillor Liz Saville Roberts who leads on Education for Gwynedd Council said:
“The council has decided to move on to statutory consultation because we understand that there is an urgent need for decisions to be made about the future of primary education in Tywyn. I am grateful that councillors value safeguarding the quality of education in rural and urban areas, and prioritise the needs of children. These proposals can strengthen Welsh-medium education in the area.’’
In accordance with the Council’s strategy, a catchment-area review is underway in the Y Berwyn catchment area where the intention is to present proposals to the Council by the summer of 2010.
