COUNCILLORS have been warned not to threaten Llanfyllin’s heritage by following through with plans to ‘modernise’ secondary education in the county.
That was the unequivocal message delivered to Powys County Council’s school modernisation panel by 700 parents, current pupils, former pupils, politicians, teachers and governors at Wednesday night’s informal consultation meeting.
In fact, there were so many at the meeting that video links had to be set-up in two other rooms around the school for people who could not squeeze into the theatre.
The school modernisation plans include a proposal for Llanfyllin High School to merge with Caereinion High School with one headteacher and management to create a post-16 education hub.
Llanfyllin is also under threat of not being used as a school charged with delivering 80 per cent of its curriculum through the medium of Welsh.
Both options were roundly rejected by the packed school hall.
Huw Williams, chairman of Llanrhaeadr Community Council, said: “I am astonished to be standing in a Welsh school pleading for the Welsh language to be kept here in Llanfyllin.
“Put it in big bold writing, this is not going to happen. We live our lives as Welsh people in our own country and don’t you dare think about taking our language away from us. You are sitting there with your mouths wide open, it is astonishing. I am not smiling because you are threatening our heritage.”
Tom Ellis, a former teacher at the school, said: “If you take post-16 education away from Llanfyllin then those pupils will not be taught in Welshpool or Newtown, they will be taught in Oswestry.
“We are a unit here, a cultural unit. You would send me to my grave if you take post-16 education away from Llanfyllin High School.”
Graham Roberts, who has two sons at Llanfyllin High School, urged the school modernisation team to remember that a school is as much about helping youngsters develop interpersonal social skills as it is a place for learning.
He added: “My son gives up his spare time to help nurture the younger pupils. How is he going to do this in a learning hub miles away?”
Llanfyllin Town Councillor Darren Mayor summed up the feeling of the community by saying: “The community here fully supported the notion of a stand-alone 11-18 bilingual school working in partnership, as it already does, with other local partnerships.”
Questions were also asked as to why Coleg Powys is playing a major role in the final decision making and if they can be trusted to be partisan.
However Simon Pirotte, the principal at Coleg Powys, was full of praise for Llanfyllin High School.
He said: “I am immensely impressed with Llanfyllin High School. The teachers and the pupils are excellent ambassadors for the school.”
Headteacher Carl Mincher concluded: “I am really impressed with the number of people at the meeting. It really sends out a message to the school modernisation panel. I am so grateful to the community for coming out in their droves and taking part in the consultation.”