Councillors called on to scrap plans to merge four schools in North-East Wales

Sam Rowlands, Member of the Welsh Parliament for North Wales, is urging Flintshire backbench councillors to challenge this week’s decision by the Council’s political leadership to push ahead with merging four schools in North-East Wales.

Last week 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 ‘super-school’ in Flint. And despite officers recommending its approval, councillors recommended that the plans were ditched.

However, yesterday Flintshire Council’s Cabinet members rejected the recommendation and voted to take the next step in closing the four Catholic schools and creating a new “super-school” in Flint.  Mr Rowlands, who has been instrumental in campaigning on behalf of the objectors and has been running his own petition against the proposals, is now writing to backbench councillors urging them to challenge the Cabinet’s decision.

He said:

“I am very surprised that the Cabinet refused to listen to a recommendation from their fellow councillors and take into account public opinion on this matter.

“A consultation showed that over 95% of parents voted against the controversial move which clearly shows the depth of feeling on this issue and I was delighted when the Council’s Education, Youth & Culture Overview and Scrutiny Committee recommended the plans be ditched and reconsidered.

“As I have said before I was extremely disappointed that this unpopular proposal actually went as far as a consultation given the huge tide of concern from parents, governors, teachers and local councillors. For the Cabinet to just ignore the public’s views is outrageous.

“I will be writing to all backbench Flintshire councillors urging them to challenge the decision as they have the power to call for the decision to be paused so it has to be reviewed and debated or voted on again. 

“It really is vitally important that the views of local people are taken into account on such an important issue and I will continue to do everything I can to get this plan scrapped.”

Flintshire County Council plan to close four catholic schools and create a ‘super-school’ in Flint for pupils aged 3-18 from 2026 to 2029. They include St Anthony's Catholic Primary in Saltney, St David's in Mold, St Richard Gwyn Catholic High School and St Mary's in Flint with the proposed new school being developed on the existing sites of St Richard Gwyn and St Mary’s in Flint and leading to the closure of St Anthony’s by September 2026.

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