A CALL for an impartial investigation into the contentious closure of Manorbier school, is to be heard by senior councillors.

Back in June, the final decision to close fire-ravaged Manorbier school was given the go-ahead, despite a heartfelt last-minute plea by local councillor Phil Kidney to keep it open.

Manorbier Church in Wales VC School and its adjoining schoolhouse was severely damaged by a fire in October 2022, which broke out in the school roof space.

After that, a ‘school from school’ was set up in Jameston Village Hall.

It had been hoped the school would be rebuilt, but last year councillors backed a statutory consultation on proposals to discontinue Manorbier Church in Wales Voluntary Controlled School.

The decision attracted strong local opposition, with more than 1,500 people signing a petition on the council’s own website calling for the school to be rebuilt.

At a special extraordinary council meeting held on June 15, members made the final decision on discontinuation of the school, backed by 30 votes to 23, with four abstentions.

At the meeting, local councillor Phil Kidney, who has been a staunch supporter of keeping the school open, said: “We’ve all let these people down, the way this council has handled this situation is appalling; from day one not one of the executives came up to see these children, no-one came out; if that was Haverfordwest or Tenby they’d be all over the place.”

Following that decision, issues around the contentious closure were heard at the July 16 meeting of the council.

In a notice of motion before councillors, Cllr Kidney proposed: “That council considers a full impartial investigation into the process of closing Manorbier school, specifically the time it has taken, broken promises, inadequate insurance, and the involvement of HR department.”

A supporting statement for his motion said: “The review should be carried out by someone not employed by the authority, with powers to recommend disciplinary action if they deem necessary.

“A full impartial review should hopefully stop another school being treated so appallingly.”

Cllr Kidney also, in a submitted question, sought an apology from the deputy leader, who now has responsibility for education: “Would the Cabinet Member for Education [Cllr Paul Miller] like to apologise to the staff and parents of Manorbier School for his comments at the last council meeting, where he stated children would get a better education in St Florence and children in Manorbier were being taught in one room?

“This is both factually wrong and insulting to staff, who have worked tirelessly to provide teaching of an excellent standard, and if he had taken the time to read the last Estyn report, he may not have made these derogatory comments.”

Members agreed Cllr Kidney’s notice of motion would be heard at a future Cabinet meeting.

In response to Cllr Kidney’s question, said he “had no intention of insulting staff,” who were “doing a great job in very difficult circumstances”.

He went on to say that if he had said the words quoted by Cllr Kidney, he would apologise for them but stressed: “I do believe it will be better for them [the pupils] to be in a larger school.”

On July 16, with the summer holidays approaching, the doors of Manorbier Church in Wales Primary School closed for the final time.

Friends of Manorbier School posted on social media: “This isn’t the ending that our children, families, staff, and community hoped for. Yet as we reach this difficult milestone, we are reminded that Manorbier School has always been so much more than a building. For generations, it has been a place filled with friendship, laughter, learning, kindness, and unforgettable memories.”

It added: “As we say goodbye, we do so with immense gratitude and pride.

“Thank you, Manorbier School, for the memories, the laughter, the kindness, and the community you created.”

A PUBLIC consultation is to be held on discontinuing two schools in the Tenby area, including Greenhill comprehensive, with the aim of establishing a new 3-19 community school.

In a report before Pembrokeshire County Council’s meeting of July 16, members were asked to back a public consultation into establishing a new 3-19 community school in the Tenby area, discontinuing Tenby Church in Wales VC School and Ysgol Greenhill comprehensive.

Back in December councillors backed authorising the Director of Education to commence statutory consultation on establishing a new 3-19 school, a split site initially, but as part of an investment to rebuild/extend Tenby’s Greenhill site, or on a new site.

It included a consultation with the St David’s Diocese to discontinue Tenby Church in Wales Voluntary Controlled School, and to discontinue Ysgol Greenhill before the report before members in July.

A report for members, presented by the council’s deputy leader, and now Cabinet Member for Education, Cllr Paul Miller said that, since the December meeting, St David’s Diocese responded by conditionally supporting the Tenby VC School element, subject to the newly established 3–19 school retaining a religious character, either as a Voluntary Aided (VA) or Voluntary Controlled (VC) school.

The report added: “In accordance with the decision of council at its meeting on  December 12, and the statutory requirements of the School Organisation Code, consultation has been undertaken with the St David’s Diocese.

“In relation to the council’s proposal for Tenby VC School, the comments received from the Diocese do not provide any reason not to proceed with general consultation.”

It added: “As most pupils within the cluster attend community primary schools, it is recommended that consultation be undertaken on the basis of establishing a community primary school.

“It should be noted that, whatever the decision, this would merely reflect the preferred option outlined within the general consultation document.

“Members would still be required to give due consideration to feedback received as a result of the consultation, which may include a preference by consultees for a different governance model.”

Members, by 41 votes to two abstentions, backed the formal consultation, which had been moved by Council Leader Cllr Tessa Hodgson.

SUPPORTERS of Ysgol Cilgerran’s Church in Wales school have protested at a Pembrokeshire County Council meeting against council plans to remove church status from the school.

Back in May, Pembrokeshire County Council voted to remove Voluntary Controlled (VC) status from the Welsh-medium rural school despite 97 per cent of the responses to a consultation having opposed a change which the church describes as ‘entirely unnecessary’.

The Church in Wales has objected formally to the proposal and has warned it will take legal action on the grounds of “public misrepresentation and unqualified legal assertions made by Pembrokeshire County Council officers,” and “discrimination against faith schooling”.

During Pembrokeshire County Council’s full council meeting of July 16, parents, teachers, and students travelled to County Hall, Haverfordwest to protest.

Their colourful protest signs, made by students, carried messages such as “You can’t fix what isn’t broken”, “Leave our VC status alone”, and “Don’t take away our identity for a few £££”.

One of the protesters, an ex-pupil and governor, Sarah Moore, has said: “I’m here today because I’m horrified that the council are talking about taking the church status away from our school. The church gave that land for the school over 180 years ago.

“97 per cent have voted against this and yet they’re still trying to do it. If we want our children to stay in a church school, the nearest one is Letterston. So where will these children have that good education that they are getting now?”

Kelly Davies, parent and governor, said: “We feel really strongly as parents, the pupils and the community that we’re not happy about them taking VC status away.

“We have really strong links with the church and the school and the community. It just seems that they’re taking this away from us permanently for no reason.”

The Church has said it has deep concern about what it sees as a pattern of the council’s recent actions regarding Church Schools.

In June, councillors voted to close Manorbier Church in Wales Voluntary Controlled School, which was damaged by a fire in 2022.

The Church says it is taking formal action in this case.

It has also expressed concerns about VC status being lost for Tenby Church in Wales VC school after councillors backed a consultation on penitential education changes in the Tenby area.

A spokesperson for the Church in Wales said: “The entirely unnecessary threat to the status of this much-loved community school has had an impact on children, families, and the wider community. We are not prepared to allow another thriving rural school to lose its treasured character.

“Ysgol Cilgerran has our full support, and we hope that Pembrokeshire County Council listens to the voices of the community it serves, and chooses not to remove VC status.”