Council outlines future of two Flintshire schools previously earmarked for controversial amalgamation

Flintshire Council has outlined the future of two schools which were controversially set to be amalgamated. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

There was a two-year battle over proposals to close Lixwm Primary School, which would have resulted in pupils moving to the nearby Brynford Primary School. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Several protests were held and about 80 per cent of people who responded to a public consultation said they were against the changes, which were cancelled at the last minute by the authority’s ruling administration. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

In June leading politicians instead outlined plans for the two schools to work in federation across the two existing sites. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

A £500,000 bid has now been put together to help modernise the building in Brynford as talks over future collaboration continue. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

In a report Claire Homard, chief officer for education and youth, said: “In June 2018, cabinet determined not to proceed with the proposed statutory amalgamation of the two schools.
“At this meeting cabinet underpinned its desire to support capital investment in Brynford CP to address major accommodation issues. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“The original options appraisal identified approximately £1.3m investment need to bring the building up to building bulletin standard. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“Officers have linked with social services and bid for £500,000 through the Welsh Government’s Childcare Capital Funding Grant to part-fund an investment project at the school. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“Welsh Government has yet to consider this grant application and in the interim, officers are currently investigating other funding options. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“Currently both sets of governors are considering their options for collaboration and or federation across the wider educational network.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

In another area of the county governors at two primary schools – in Nercwys and Nannerch – have recently consulted on entering into a federation model. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Nercwys Voluntary Aided and Nannerch Voluntary Controlled schools are now considering the responses. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

If they agree to go ahead with the federation, it will be formed on April 29, 2019. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

A number of other school modernisation projects are outlined in the report, which will be considered by members of the education and youth scrutiny committee on Thursday. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

By Liam Randall – Local Democracy Reporter (more here). ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

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