THE furore surrounding a leaked report on secondary education modernisation has led county councillors to call a special meeting to discuss the issue.
Concerned councillors began last week’s meeting of the full council demanding an opportunity to discuss the controversial document, which was leaked two weeks ago.
Aled Davies, county councillor for Llanrhaeadr, said: “I request an emergency debate to try and allay the fears of parents and children who will be making decisions on where they will be going to school.”
Cllr Davies also requested confirmation that any final decision on the future of secondary schools in the county would be put to the full council for a final decision.
Chairman of the council David Price agreed that a meeting would be held (expected to be on either March 17 or March 19).
Chief executive of the council, Jeremy Patterson, explained the current position, saying: “A fortnight ago a draft discussion document set up to outline models for the future of education in the county found its way into the public domain, or was leaked, before I or the portfolio holder had seen it. The intention was an updated version would come to the management team for discussion.
“We have carried out an investigation and it is clear that the version that was leaked came from the steering group putting the proposal together. The group consisted of officers and four headteachers.
"As a result of the leak I attended a meeting of the group and discussed the issue. They are equally just as upset as everyone else, particularly the headteachers as they feel they have been placed in an invidious position.
"We have had a discussion and it is agreed that the current project is no longer suitable as things have moved on. We will have a new project management set up. The four models for discussion are there and we now move the issue forward.”