School closures have been part of an effective programme to improve education in one part of Powys, a councillor has said amid ongoing plans to shut several county primaries.
In recent weeks plans to reorganise schools in the county, spearheaded by the council's Conservative education portfolio holder Phyl Davies, have come in for criticism from senior party members in the county including MPs Craig Williams and Fay Jones, and fellow cabinet member Iain McIntosh.
The moves include the closures of Llanfihangel Rhydithon and Llanbedr primary schools, and Ysgol Bro Hyddgen in Machynlleth become a Welsh medium school.
But at a meeting of the council's learning and skills committee, at which plans to close the 23-pupil Castel Caereinion Church in Wales Primary School, Labour member Cllr Sandra Davies said similar changes in her ward had proved to be of benefit.
She said she had fought to retain 12 schools around Ystradgynlais, before a reorganisation ultimately saw the number of primaries around the south Powys town reduced to four.
“Parents were up in arms, people were angry and agitated,” said Cllr Davies.
“I can compare and contrast between the two and I see improvements in a big school.
“I can assure you as far as the children in the Ystradgynlais area are concerned there have been real improvements and advantages in youngsters having the ability to learn alongside their peers in bigger classrooms.”
She also believed that the financial argument needed to be made and it was unfair to have some schools receiving thousands of pounds more in funding per pupil than others.
During 2020-21 each pupil at Castle Caereinion cost £6,919 compared to the Powys average of £4,264.
Cllr Davies said: “Surely money should be shared throughout all the schools in Powys so that every child deserves the same or as near as possible.”
Education portfolio holder Cllr Phyl Davies said: “I’d like to thank Cllr Sandra for her comments.
“There were a lot of key points that she made that really do hit home about the transformation agenda.
“It really is heartening to hear how Cllr Sandra saw it from before transformation and the way she sees it now.
“What we’ve all got to remember is the learner experience, it’s such an emotive topic, everyone is going to want to retain their local school, but change has to happen.”
The Independent/Conservative cabinet will decide Castle Caereinion’s future at their meeting on Tuesday, July 13.
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