In response to eduaction review proposlas put before Pembrokeshire County Councillors next week Bethan Williams, field officer for Cymdeithas yr Iaith in Dyfed said:
“While it is encouraging that the council would increase Welsh provision by opening a 3-16 Welsh-medium school in Haverfordwest we want to know what will be the capacity of the school - will it be big enough from the begining? There is also the question why there is no provision for the sixth form as part of the recommendations. Why would pupils who have received their whole primary and secondary education in the Haverfordwest area then choose to go all the way to Ysgol y Preseli instead of Pembrokeshire College?
“We also encourage council members to reject the euphemism that a new school will be established through amalgamating Ysgol Dewi Sant and Ysgol Bro Gwaun. In all but legal terms it is simply the closure of Ysgol Dewi Sant which will be a severe blow for the local economy. Why not create instead a new two-site school, and use the opportunity to change the language category to create a 2A school which would ensure that all pupils received a significant proportion of teir education through the medium of Welsh? "
She added:
"We urge councillors not to miss out on the opportunity to improve provision in Tenby, where a Welsh primary school will be opened next year and Pembroke Dock where the Welsh unit is full. Welsh secondary provision in Haverfordwest will make very little difference in these areas.
"The decission made by councillors next week will affect eduaction across the county for years to come and it is essential that Welsh education becomes easily available in all parts of the county."
“While it is encouraging that the council would increase Welsh provision by opening a 3-16 Welsh-medium school in Haverfordwest we want to know what will be the capacity of the school - will it be big enough from the begining? There is also the question why there is no provision for the sixth form as part of the recommendations. Why would pupils who have received their whole primary and secondary education in the Haverfordwest area then choose to go all the way to Ysgol y Preseli instead of Pembrokeshire College?
“We also encourage council members to reject the euphemism that a new school will be established through amalgamating Ysgol Dewi Sant and Ysgol Bro Gwaun. In all but legal terms it is simply the closure of Ysgol Dewi Sant which will be a severe blow for the local economy. Why not create instead a new two-site school, and use the opportunity to change the language category to create a 2A school which would ensure that all pupils received a significant proportion of teir education through the medium of Welsh? "
She added:
"We urge councillors not to miss out on the opportunity to improve provision in Tenby, where a Welsh primary school will be opened next year and Pembroke Dock where the Welsh unit is full. Welsh secondary provision in Haverfordwest will make very little difference in these areas.
"The decission made by councillors next week will affect eduaction across the county for years to come and it is essential that Welsh education becomes easily available in all parts of the county."
The option in front of councillors and meeting information can be found on the county council's website
The story in the press:
Secondary Schools could close in education shake-up - Pembrokeshire Herald 23/01/15