THE recent announcement on proposals to reorganise schools in Powys – although not unexpected – will inevitably be controversial.
I believe it presents an opportunity to create a new strategic vision for the future of our education system, ensuring that opportunities for Welsh Medium education are safeguarded and extended.
The Estyn annual report this week claims that standards last year in Wales were not as good as they should have been in more than 30 per cent of schools.
Pupils are being left behind in terms of reading, writing, maths and science. We have some excellent schools in Powys, but there are clearly some big challenges ahead.
A rational and realistic debate about the future of our education system is crucial to establish a sustainable model, offering the highest standards of attainment for our pupils and the best working conditions for school staff and headteachers.
Clinging to the current structure will only see us revisiting this issue year on year, creating uncertainty and impacting on the morale of governors, staff, pupils and parents, which in turn can affect standards.
Instead, if we accept there may be a benefit in change, we can work together to find the best solutions, with schools staffed with permanently appointed teachers and headteachers and governing bodies focusing on moving schools forward.
Schools in Pembrokeshire have travelled ahead down this path, with a mixture of mergers, federations and closures. At the heart of any reorganisation, the needs of children must be above all else.
The impact of the loss of a school building on a community and cost savings play a part, but providing the best education and facilities available in the 21st century, with all children treated equally and given the same opportunity, is key.
Research by the Institute of Welsh Affairs on the changes in Pembrokeshire has been very favourable, with 95 per cent of those interviewed saying that the effectiveness, quality and social aspect of education had improved.
Children are benefitting from better and more modern facilities, more friends of their age group, more opportunities such as sports teams, higher standards and larger year groups. Teachers have responsibility for fewer curriculum areas, enhanced professional development and better staff morale.
In Powys the reality is that pupil numbers are falling. We have ageing school buildings in desperate need of repair.
Many were fit for purpose in the last century, but now do not facilitate the education and working conditions needed today or in the future. Costs per pupil in a school with under 30 pupils are nearly double that of a school with more than 90 pupils, which is causing severe underfunding in larger schools.
We cannot just ignore these issues.
What works for Pembrokeshire may not be what works for Powys, but it demonstrates that we must not be afraid to embrace change, which can have positive outcomes and provide greater opportunities for young people.
Old school buildings could be adapted into new community hubs offering facilities for all ages. We must be ambitious about building an educational structure that recognises the challenges of provision in a rural area, but welcomes the increasing demand for Welsh medium education and best equips young people with the tools they need to achieve their potential.
We may well end up with a primary system that is different to what we have known in the past, but we have the opportunity to develop an even better model that will work for the future and I hope people will engage fully in this process.