A COMMUNITY has spoken out against controversial plans to revamp the Prestatyn primary school's entrance structure.
Prestatyn’s Nova Centre was packed for a public meeting on the future of Bodnant Infant and Junior schools, as fears grow the schools could be victims of a shake-up that would see the number of children entering slashed and mean many parents will have to send their children to other schools.
Bodnant Parent Teachers Association (PTA) praised the turnout of children, parents and grandparents who shared their stories of attending the two schools and vented opposition to the proposed one stream entry system that would create a 30 children per year group limit.
A spokesman for the PTA said: “With around 270 people attending, it truly shows not only the number of people that object to the proposal of reducing Bodnant schools to a one stream entry, but is a testimony to the value of what these schools provide to our community.”
The strength of feeling against the potential changes has been highlighted by a protest petition quickly receiving more than 1,000 signatures.
The spokesman added: “Bodnant schools are not just buildings, we are a family. Children, parents, teachers and the community working together to install morals and values to provide a better future.
“It should be understood that we are not against amalgamation. The main issue is that we want Bodnant schools to remain as two stream entry, therefore we are against being made one stream entry.
“If the proposal goes ahead we will only be able to have 30 children per year group, therefore parental choice will be taken away, with parents being forced to send their children to an alternative school.”
Vale of Clwyd MP Chris Ruane was at the meeting and has praised the Prestatyn public for attending in large numbers despite the bad weather to show the depth of feeling towards Bodnant.
He added: “I understand Denbighshire County Council has to rationalise surplus school places. However, parents are queuing up to send their children to these schools and despite the fact that costs for educating the children are the second lowest in Denbighshire, their academic records are among the best in the county.”
A further public meeting is planned in the next month as the community continues to pull together against the one stream structure.
The authority has said the review of primary school provision in Prestatyn is being held to “meet the increased demand for Welsh medium education, reduce surplus places in English speaking schools and cut down on mobile classroom use”.