Consultation to begin on merging two Old Colwyn primary schools

A public consultation will start next month on the amalgamation of two Old Colwyn primary schools, which could lead to redundancies if given the go-ahead.

At a meeting at Coed Pella on Tuesday, Conwy Council’s cabinet agreed to rubber-stamp the consultation for the amalgamation of Ysgol T Gwynn Jones (Infants) and Ysgol Iau Hen Golwyn (Juniors) into a single, unified school.

If approved, the new streamlined school would continue to operate across both existing school sites with one management structure.

A report discussed by the cabinet warned of “potential staff redeployment and/or redundancies” as a result of the merger.

During the meeting, cabinet member for education Cllr Julie Fallon said: “The proposal is to formally amalgamate the two schools, so the infants and the juniors.

“The proposed new school would remain located on the two sites but would operate under one management structure.

“So the proposal and subsequent statutory steps would be in line with the Welsh Government statutory code of practice.

“The proposal would provide continuity of education for the pupils, which we’ve seen in a number of these that have taken place; a greater sense of school community for all staff, pupils, and parents, with one consistent vision, ethos, continuity, and

progression of learning through the seamless transition; shared teaching expertise, and more effective deployment of resources.”

She added: “Initial discussions on the proposal have taken place with the headteachers and the governing bodies at both schools. Both are content for us to move forward with the consultation.”

The move comes as part of a wider review of school organisation under the Welsh Government’s Statutory School Organisation Code (2017), which requires councils to ensure educational consistency, efficient use of school buildings, and equal funding per pupil.

Cllr Dilwyn Roberts seconded Cllr Fallon’s proposal to back the consultation, which was voted through.

The public consultation will start on June 2 until July 14, returning for debate at cabinet in October, with a final decision due early in the new year.

By Richard Evans – Local Democracy Reporter