Powys School's face closure despite Lib Dem vote against decision

2.00.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 9th Oct 2007

"I am very disappointed with the board's decision this morning to close both Ysgol Thomas Stevens and Howey School. We hear frequently from my conservative colleagues in the Assembly about the threats to small schools in Wales but this shows a lack of consistency with the fact that a former conservative candidate has proposed these closures in Powys." said Kirsty Williams AM for Brecon & Radnorshire.

The closures, which were proposed by board member Cllr David Jones, a former Conservative Parliamentary Candidate, were this morning voted against by all Lib Dem and Labour board members but were supported by all Independent members

Kirsty said: "Powys County Council has already agreed to a review of the Ystradgynlais catchment area and the decision to look at Ysgol Thomas Stevens should have been included under the wider terms of this review. Equally Howey's future should have been considered under the review of the Llandrindod catchment area and more particularly in conjunction with proposals for a Welsh Medium School."

James Gibson-Watt, leader of the Lib Dem group, put forward an amendment calling to defer closure proposals on Howey while a wider review of the Llandrindod Wells catchment is conducted, with reference to the establishment of a Welsh medium primary school in the central Powys area, this was defeated despite full support from the Lib Dem Group. A similar amendment was put forward calling for closure of Ysgol Thomas Stevens to be deferred until the Ystradgynlais catchment area review, this too was defeated despite support by all Lib Dems.

Kirsty said: "I and my Lib Dem colleagues have consistently called for Powys County Council to consider schools restructuring on a catchment area basis rather than the current individual schools basis, which we feel is outdated and incomplete in its scope."

Kirsty said: "This Thursday 11th I will be taking the Powys Community Schools Action Group to meet with the Minister for Education to discuss with her the threats faced by small and rural schools across Wales and alternatives such as federation and clustering systems. I will not give up on the struggle to save our small schools despite today's setback."