A NOTICE proposing the merger of three existing primary schools to create a new super primary school in a Powys town has been published.

Powys County Council (PCC) is proposing to merge Mount Street Infants School, Mount Street Junior School and Cradoc CP School in Brecon to create a new super school as part of transforming education plans for the town’s catchment area.

The proposal is to merge the three existing schools to create a new one operating from the current three sites from September 2023 until the new school transfers to a brand-new school building on the former Brecon High School site in the future. The proposed date for this is 2025/26.

Plans have not been without controversy – much like how plans to shut other primary schools in the county have been met. In fact, one local county councillor even quit during an online meeting seconds after his colleagues had voted to press ahead with plans last month.

In December, Powys County Council’s cabinet agreed to publish the statutory notice, formally moving forward with the proposals after considering the findings of a consultation report prepared after the council carried out a consultation last year.

There will be a 28-day objection period for people against the proposal to send their opinions to the council. A further report, summarising any objections received, will be considered by cabinet before a final decision is made on the proposal.

Councillor Phyl Davies, the cabinet member for education and property, said: “After carefully considering all the consultation responses, cabinet have agreed to continue with the proposal by publishing the statutory notice formally proposing the amalgamation of Mount Street Infants School, Mount Street Junior School and Cradoc CP School to create a new primary school.

“We are committed to transforming the learner experience and entitlement for our learners and we will achieve this by delivering our ‘Strategy for Transforming Education in Powys 2020-2030’.

“We are also committed to providing world-class facilities that will enable our learners and teachers to thrive and reach their potential.

“Our strategy is ambitious, exciting and we believe it will give our learners the best possible start they deserve. However, as we start to implement it, we will be faced with significant decisions as we look to address some of the challenges facing education in Powys.

“The decision to continue with this proposal has not been reached lightly. Not only has it been robustly challenged by senior leaders within the council at every step, but it has been developed in the best interest of the learners, who have been at the forefront of our discussions and decision-making.

“I believe that our plans for the Brecon catchment area will help us deliver our strategy and improve the education entitlement and experience for future learners by providing a modern learning environment and facilities to enable the delivery of the new curriculum for Wales.

“However, it is important that cabinet hears the views of those who object to the proposal before any final decisions are made and I would urge them to send their views to us so that they can be considered.”

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Cllr Iain McIntosh dropped a bombshell when the announcement to press ahead with the closure of the three Brecon schools was announced on December 14.

The cabinet member for housing, planning and economic development had declared an interest, meaning he would not be voting on the proposal, and he spoke against it.

Following a unanimous vote in favour of merging the three schools under one headteacher and governing body, Cllr McIntosh announced his departure from both the cabinet and Conservative group on PCC.

“This is decision I cannot accept, and I don’t recognise it as a Conservative party or group decision,” he said.

“So, I’m afraid I’m going to be resigning from the Conservative group with immediate effect and obviously my position on the cabinet as well.

“This is a decision I just cannot stomach and will be fighting very much against it from this point.”

He pointed out that both Conservative elected members for Brecon and Radnorshire, MP Fay Jones and MS James Evans, were against the proposals.

Mr Evans, himself a former cabinet member until October 2020, left the Conservatives and his role as a county councillor in December in order to focus fully on his new role representing Brecon and Radnorshire in the Senedd. He had been MS as well as Gwernyfed’s representative on the local authority since the Senedd elections in May last year.

Just today (Monday, January 10), Mark Barnes became the third councillor to depart the Conservative group in the space of a month.

It emerged over the weekend that Cllr Barnes, who represents the Newtown Llanllwchaiarn West ward, had left the group due to a “lack of integrity over a couple of issues”.

It means that of the 20 Conservatives elected to the council at the last election in 2017, just 12 remain within the group.

To view the statutory notice for the Brecon schools merger, visit here.

Alternatively, you can send your objection in to the council in writing, either by emailing school.organisation@powys.gov.uk or via post to the Director of Education, Powys County Council, Powys County Hall, Llandrindod Wells, Powys, LD1 5LG.

The objection period will close on Friday, February 4.