Closure of Gwynedd primary school with just eight pupils set to be approved next week

The permanent closure of a Gwynedd primary school is set to be rubber-stamped by councillors next week.

Ysgol Llanaelhaearn has only eight pupils on the books – far below its capacity of 53 – with an even further drop to just five being projected by September 2021.

But, after launching the statutory notice to shut the school earlier this year, a cabinet meeting next week is expected to formalise the process.

The meeting, which will be held virtually due to the coronavirus outbreak, will see Gwynedd Council’s cabinet asked to rubber stamp the closure of Ysgol Llanaelhaearn on August 31, 2020, and transfer its remaining pupils six miles away to Ysgol Bro Plenydd in Y Ffôr.

Originally, officers had expected the pupils to attend Ysgol Chwilog, which is closer to Llanaelhaearn at 3.6 miles, but both parents and governors lobbied for Y Ffôr due to established close links between both schools which already share a headteacher.

According to Gwynedd council, the decision to close the school was made after a dramatic fall in pupil numbers from 42 in 2012 – with the average cost per pupil for 2019/20 standing at £17,051, compared with the county-wide average of £4,198.

Cllr Aled Wyn Jones, the local councillor, told an earlier meeting of the cabinet that while the school delivered an “excellent education”, he also had to concede that numbers had dipped to a level that was “concerning” and thus a much higher cost per pupil than the county average.

According to the head of finance, the move would save around £100,000 after additional transport costs were taken into account, with the authority having adhered to the Welsh Government’s School Organisaton Code, which compels councils to seek all possible avenues before deciding to shut a rural school.

The report, that will be discussed on Tuesday, confirms that no option, other than closure, would address the key challenges facing the school of:

• Low pupil numbers
• Projections indicating a further fall in numbers over the next five years
• Existing pupils are educated in classes which are small in numbers – with one class of three pupils and one class of five.

It concludes: “As no objections were received during the objection period, and the fact that no alternative option was identified which would address the main challenges facing the school, it is recommended that Cabinet approves the decision sought which is to confirm the proposal given by statutory notice to close Ysgol Llanaelhaearn.“

By Gareth Williams – Local Democracy Reporter