Controversial school merger proposal raised in Welsh Parliament

Sam Rowlands, Member of the Welsh Parliament for North Wales, says parents in Flintshire should be allowed to choose their children’s education.

Mr Rowlands continues to campaign on behalf of objectors and has been running his own petition against the proposals to merge St Anthony’s in Saltney, St. David’s school in Mold, and St. Mary’s and St. Richard Gwyn Schools in Flint to form a ‘superschool’ in Flint.

Speaking in the Senedd during a Welsh Conservative debate on Education outcomes he said:

“I'm speaking not just as a Welsh Conservative, but as a parent who has three children in the Welsh school system at the moment. As a parent, there are things I'm genuinely concerned about.

“An important point that concerns me as a parent, is that we need to give parents choice over the education of their children. Choice is a fundamental value that we hold dear as Conservatives. It's a big difference between ourselves as Conservatives and other parties in this Chamber.

“We trust parents to make the right decisions with their children, but, far too often, parents aren't given the options to choose. In Labour-run Wales, it's very much a one-size-fits-all approach. Let me give a live example of what has taken place in Flintshire, which shows this very clearly.

“In Flintshire, local families are facing the closure of four catholic schools—three primaries and one high school—to be replaced by one giant superschool for three to 18s. You'd think such a major change would be supported by evidence and significant public support. This simply is not the case.

“95% of people who responded to the consultation opposed this plan. Parents are furious, and rightly so. Some are now going to have to face round trips of 14 miles to get their four-year-old to school, and the local authority is suggesting that those four-year-olds should just jump on the bus to be able to access that education. It's not practical, it's not fair, and it does not put children first. 

“We're told this is about improving outcomes. There has been no clear explanation of how uprooting these communities will do that.

“What's especially frustrating is that schools like St Anthony's in Saltney and St David's in Mold are at the heart of their community, and they are being closed, removing the choice—the important word there, the 'choice'—of Catholic education, which so many hold dear.

“What sort of message are we sending to parents? What message are we sending to teachers, who already feel overwhelmed and undervalued? We talk about retaining those important staff, but then we shut down the schools in which they are making a real difference.

“We can't carry on as we are. After 26 years of this tired Labour Government, Wales deserve better, and so do our children.”

Two weeks ago Flintshire Council’s Education, Youth & Culture Overview and Scrutiny Committee debated proposals to merge St Anthony’s in Saltney, St. David’s school in Mold, and St. Mary’s and St. Richard Gwyn Schools in Flint to form a ‘superschool’ in Flint. And despite officers recommending its approval, councillors recommended that the plans were ditched.

However, last week Flintshire Council’s Cabinet members rejected the recommendation and voted to open a formal objection period with a 28 day window offering opponents of the plans a last-chance to make their case against the plans.

Since then, Mr Rowlands has written to all Flintshire backbench councillors to challenge the decision by the Council’s political leadership to push ahead with merging four schools in North-East Wales.

Mr Rowlands added:

“For the Cabinet to just ignore the public’s views is outrageous. This decision needs challenging so it can be reviewed and debated or voted on again.

“I will continue to do everything I can to get this proposal thrown out. It is simply not right that the views of local people on such an important issue are being ignored.”

Pictured - Sam Rowlands MS pictured earlier this year with parents, governors and councillors who object to the proposal.