Disappointment at councillors who voted not to pause plans to merge four schools in North-East Wales

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.

Despite officers recommending its approval, councillors recommended that the plans were ditched.

However, 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 “superschool” in Flint.

Following the decision several councillors, “called In” the decision, triggering a special meeting to reconsider the plans.

Sam Rowlands, Member of the Welsh Parliament for North Wales, says he is disappointed with councillors in Flintshire for not voting to pause the controversial plan to merge four Catholic schools in the county.

Mr Rowlands, who has been instrumental in campaigning on behalf of the objectors and has been running his own petition against the proposals said:

“I am extremely disappointed that members of the Council’s Education, Youth & Culture Overview and Scrutiny Committee did not vote to pause the mergers, instead accepting Flintshire Council’s Cabinet decision on the basis that they “were no longer concerned”.

“Quite clearly there still remains a lot of concern over these plans and I would like to thank the councillors from different parties who tried their best to get the decision over turned.

“I have said previously that I felt this unpopular proposal should never have gone as far as a consultation given the huge tide of concern from parents, governors, teachers and local councillors

“The consultation showed that over 95% of parents are against the controversial move and yet councillors who are supposed to represent their communities have just ignored the public’s views.”

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.

The Call In, which triggered the special meeting to reconsider the plans was signed by councillors David Coggins-Cogan, Andy Hughes, Linda Thew, David Richardson and Carol Ellis.

Mr Rowlands added:

“I find it incredible that a committee which originally agreed to ditch the merger plans should then turn around and not support their decision. Public opinion appears to count for nothing.

“The Council is now required by law to consult further on the plans and invite objections to these mergers.  It is now essential that parents, governors and teachers all continue to voice their concerns to stop these plans going any further.”

Pictured - Sam Rowlands MS pictured earlier this year at a protest against the proposed school mergers.