GOVERNORS claim the future of a town’s primary schools has been safeguarded.
Steve Whittaker, a parent governor for Conwy Road school and community governor at Ysgol Pendorlan, Colwyn Bay, is optimistic about Conwy County Borough Council’s review of schools. He said federalisation with Ysgol Pendorlan has recently taken place, and has already had a positive impact on both schools.
Mike Mulvaney, who was previously solely the headteacher of Ysgol Pendorlan, has now been appointed to head up both schools.
Mr Whittaker said the decision to combine the schools’ resources will allow pupils and teachers to access facilities, which were previously unavailable.
Mr Whittaker said transportation and IT equipment are just two examples of the boost to school resources. The governor hopes the move will bring more pupils to the school in September. He said: “It is a great boost. It has added to resources and this is permanent. A shared headship means that the quality of teaching will stay the same, the same teachers and classes will be the same. It is all positive, Conwy Road will now share Ysgol Pendorlan’s resources.”
Governors at Glan y Mor have held talks with the council and it is hoped the school will join the federalisation.
In February this year parents of the three Colwyn Bay schools expressed their concerns during a public meeting with education representatives. They feared they would lose their small community schools and the three primary schools would be amalgamated into one new school, creating larger classes of up to 30 pupils.
Cllr Chris Hughes, governor of Glan y Mor and Ysgol Pendorlan said federalisation will free up money to invest in children’s education. He said: “There will be more money to take on classroom assistants. Pendorlan has a great music suite, a bigger hall and an IT suite. Parents are feeling positive, they have said, why have two headteachers, when the schools are across the road from each other? Anxiety will disappear when children move up to the bigger school, as they will have already been into Pendorlan and taken part in events. It will be a smoother transition. It would be positive for all schools.”
But Colwyn Bay town councillor Janet Griffiths is apprehensive about the news of federalisation. She said: “I am unsure. I have mixed opinions about it. Is it a cost cutting exercise? Parents were uncertain last year about federalisation, but if it is what the teachers and the children want and they are happy then that is ok.”
What do you think? Have your say by commenting below.