School consultations underway

Carmarthenshire County Council is consulting on four different proposals for schools in the county.

The council has a legal responsibility to review the number and type of schools it has and to make the best use of resources and facilities to deliver the opportunities that children deserve.

As a result, a wide-ranging programme to improve school buildings and enhance opportunities for learning is underway across Carmarthenshire, and to date £295million has been spent on primary and secondary schools across the county providing state-of-the-art facilities and accommodation to give children the best possible education.

Now local communities are being asked for their views on four different proposals to:

• review primary education provision in the Mynydd-y-Garreg and Gwenllian areas;
• change the age range of Swiss Valley Primary School from 4-11 to 3-11;
• review primary education provision in the Blaenau and Llandybie areas;
• reconfigure and remodel behaviour support services at Ysgol Rhydygors to improve provision for children and young people.

The consultations are running for six weeks ending on February 11, and will give everyone in the local communities the opportunity to have their say, either via the consultation pages on the council website or by emailing or writing to the council if preferred.

Links to the consultation documents are being sent to all interested parties, and the Education department will be organising ‘virtual’ drop-in sessions so that communities can discuss the proposals and ask any questions they may have.

Some informal sessions have already been held with parents and governors to give them a chance to speak to officers and ask any questions on the proposals.

The information gathered from the consultations will form part of the consultation report which will be submitted to the Executive Board for consideration following the consultation period.

Executive Board Member for Education and Children’s Services Cllr Glynog Davies said: “The council has a statutory obligation to keep the number and type of school places under review and to deliver services to clear standards by the most economic and effective means.

“Our schools need to be able to provide a wide range of services to the communities they serve, and it is important that future provision reflects the changing patterns of population, with schools based in the right location with the accommodation and facilities that are fit to serve the needs of 21st century learners.

“It is important that local communities and interested parties give their views on these proposals for their schools. All the details for each of the proposals can be found on the council website, or please contact us if you need paper copies.

“If you have any questions, I would urge you to please attend one of the virtual drop-in sessions that are being organised, further information to follow as soon as possible, or if you are unable to attend, please get in touch to speak to our officers.”

For further information on the proposals and to take part in the online survey please visit the consultation pages on our website.

For all other enquiries please email DECMEP@carmarthenshire.gov.uk or call 01267 246426.