THERE is a lot going on behind the scenes and we cannot rest on our laurels, was the message from Wednesday night’s public meeting about schools modernisation.
Seven hundred questionnaires have been returned to the Llanidloes Education Action Group (LEAG) by parents and residents who are determined to save their school.
More than 150 people attended the meeting organised by LEAG on July 14 at the Llanidloes Community Centre, including parents, teachers, pupils, local councillors and school activists.
The meeting was in response to the report on schools modernisation released by Powys County Council in June, which is available online via the Powys website.
The council is reviewing the county’s existing secondary and post-16 education services and highlights seven potential options, with all 13 schools under review, and also looks at a ‘confederated’ approach with schools pooling resources.
Joe Purches, the chairman of LEAG, said: “We are currently in a dialogue with the council. It’s very important that they talk to us and there is a lot going on behind the scenes.
“These are not aggressive talks, in fact the council has been very receptive and responsive and is willing to come and explain its side.
"However, we don’t have the luxury of time. By the end of September, Powys County Council is looking to develop a shortlist of options for schools modernisation and to start the decision process.
“Keep the pressure up, keep writing and filling in these questionnaires,” he urged those present.
Town councillor and LEAG member Margot Jones echoed the sentiments, describing the work of the LEAG so far.
“We have regular meetings, a constitution and have set up a bank account. We try to work with the school as much as we can and it is our remit to do whatever the school needs us to do.”
The county council has issued a set of five feedback questions as part of its public consultation process, which has been distributed to parents and is also on the Powys website. The deadline to return the form is July 31.
Darren Davies, headteacher of Llanidloes High School, said that everyone must acknowledge that Powys schools need to modernise.
“The current situation is unsustainable, especially for the sixth form, where we may have just one or two pupils taking up certain A level subjects,” he said.
“However, we do offer video conferencing as an option for pupils to learn from teachers remotely, as well as collaborating with Newtown High School, John Beddoes and Coleg Powys to form a regional consortium.”
Similar consortiums are also taking place between schools in the north, mid and south of the county.
Headteachers from the Powys schools had formulated ‘Model 5’ of the modernisation report and that was the option they wished to see implemented by the county council, the meeting heard.
The LEAG campaign is backed by Powys Against Cuts in Education (PACE) and their website is www.savepowysschools.com. LEAG also has its own questionnaire for Llanidloes residents and parents.