Issue - meetings

a.    To approve finally the proposal under Section 43 of the School Standards and Organisation (Wales) Act 2013, given through a statutory notice, to close Ysgol Felinwnda on 31 December 2023, and to transfer the current pupils to an alternative school nearby, either Ysgol Bontnewydd or Ysgol Llandwrog, according to parents' choice, from 1 January 2024.

b.    To approve transport arrangements for the transition phase only, where free transport would be provided for those learners who are currently registered in Ysgol Felinwnda and living in the catchment area of Ysgol Felinwnda, to Ysgol Bontnewydd or Ysgol Llandwrog, for the remainder of the learner's time in either of those schools, in accordance with Cyngor Gwynedd's transport policy.

c.     To consult on the future of Ysgol Felinwnda's current catchment area to agree which school, or schools, will serve as a future catchment school for the children of Ysgol Felinwnda's current catchment area.

The report was submitted by Cllr Beca Brown

DECISION

a.    To approve finally the proposal under Section 43 of the School Standards and Organisation (Wales) Act 2013, given through a statutory notice, to close Ysgol Felinwnda on 31 December 2023, and to transfer the current pupils to an alternative school nearby, namely Ysgol Bontnewydd or Ysgol Llandwrog, according to parents' choice, from 1 January 2024.

b.    To approve transport arrangements for the transition phase only, where free transport would be provided for those learners who are currently registered in Ysgol Felinwnda and living in the catchment area of Ysgol Felinwnda, to Ysgol Bontnewydd or Ysgol Llandwrog, for the remainder of the learner's time in either of those schools, in accordance with Cyngor Gwynedd's transport policy.

c.     To consult on the future of Ysgol Felinwnda's current catchment area to agree which school, or schools, will serve as a future catchment school for the children of Ysgol Felinwnda's current catchment area.

DISCUSSION

Members were reminded that Ysgol Felinwnda was the smallest school within the county following a PLASC (Pupil Level Annual School Census) in January 2023, with only 8 pupils attending the school. It was detailed that an item had been submitted to the Cabinet on 11 July 2023 to receive permission to issue a statutory notice of the proposal to undertake a consultation to close the school.

It was reported that an objection period had been undertaken between 5 September and 4 October and that four objections to closing the school had been received. The members were assured that these objections had been considered.

It was noted that consultations had been undertaken with pupils and staff of the school. It was summarised that some of their considerations included feeling saddened, scared to lose friends, worried about the future of the building and the support available for them in new schools. Despite this, it was also noted that they were proud of the experiences the school had provided to them and there was a sense of a close family within the school, and pupils were looking forward to making new friends.

Consideration was given to the community impact of closing the school. It was not considered that there would be a negative impact on the community should the school close as there was no community use of the building beyond educational use. It was explained that this was the situation because the community hall was located next door to the school and was used regularly. It was recognised that the local cylch meithrin used this community centre and there was a possibility that closing the school would affect the cylch. Despite this, it was reported that the figures of children attending the cylch were very healthy and this did not follow onto the school, therefore, it was considered that there would not be much impact on the cylch meithrin.

It was explained that specific consideration had been given to the community centre, ensuring that the Community Support Service would  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6