Councillors urged to throw out proposals to merge four catholic schools

Flintshire County Council are planning to close St David’s Catholic Primary School in Mold, St Anthony’s in Saltney, St Mary’s in Flint and St Richard Gwyn High School in Flint and build a £55 million superschool for pupils aged 3-18 on the site of St Richard Gwyn.

At a recent special meeting of Flintshire County Council’s Education, Youth and Culture Overview and Scrutiny Committee members voted by a majority to send the consultation to the Cabinet for a final decision.

Mr Rowlands, who has been instrumental in campaigning on behalf of the objectors and has been running his own petition against the proposals, has hit out at the committee decision which follows a public consultation which showed overwhelming objection to the plans.

MS for North Wales Sam Rowlands said:

“I cannot believe that despite the huge numbers who have objected to this proposal some councillors still won’t listen to public opinion.

“I am still receiving emails from members of the public who remain extremely worried as Flintshire Council refused to accept the feedback of the previous consultation in the Summer which showed that over 95% of parents are against the controversial move.

“It is astonishing to see councillors, who are supposed to represent their communities, totally ignoring the public’s views on this matter.

“I understand members did recommend that St Anthony’s School in Saltney, which is due to close in September 2026, to stay open for a further year but that will make little difference to the overall controversial plans to completely shake-up Catholic education in this part of Flintshire.

“I remain vehemently against these plans as I am a firm believer in keeping schools local and I do not think merging four local schools into one superschool is the right way forward. St Anthony’s, for example, has been part of the Saltney community for over 150 years and provides education grounded in Christian values.

“I hope that Flintshire Council’s Cabinet will listen to the public and throw out these proposals next week.”

Pictured - Sam Rowlands, MS for North Wales, with protestors at St David’s RC School in Mold.