Huw Jones: There is no plan yet we just want your ideas

THE MOOD was tense at a meeting for parents arranged by the council to discuss the future of primary education in Milford Haven on Tuesday (Mar 1).

This was not a statutory consultation and this point was emphasised on a number of occasions during the evening.

With the council’s reputation on consultations on very shaky ground, there was a measurable atmosphere of fear and uncertainty in the hall.

The meeting, held at Milford Haven School, was attended by 57 people. Some present complained that the 6.30pm start made it impossible for some parents to attend. Fifteen of those attending were town or community councillors, school governors or teachers. The majority of the parents, it seemed, were from St Francis RC School – but all schools were represented.

But those representing St Francis made it very clear that they did not feel happy about the consultation. Several parents with children in St Francis said they felt sidelined, and were unhappy about how the council’s consultation document was worded.

The council claimed at the meeting that they had no plans or ideas themselves at this stage, and that this was purely consultation exercise. The council further claimed all primary schools in the Milford Haven area were advised last year that preliminary engagement would take place during the 2015/16 academic year; this was following a report to Council in December 2014.

The representatives from Pembrokeshire County Council were Huw Jones, Professional Officer, Planning Places and Admissions and Sian Rowles, Challenge Advisor.

Mr Jones said that the Meads school is currently severely overcrowded, at 114% it’s capacity. The council added temporary buildings to house additional pupils soon after the Mount school closes – but pupil numbers are expected to peak by 2020. It is expected that next year 839 pupils will attend the three schools, the highest ever number.

St Francis has 23% empty places. Parents and teachers at the school feel that because St Francis does not have a nursery, with all children attending The Meads for their first experience of school, St Francis is put at a disadvantage when it comes to attracting students.

One parent suggested that many children would like to stay in the school where they have made friends, leading to one school being overcrowded and the other underutilised.

Huw Jones stated that “with the benefit of hindsight”, it had probably been a mistake to close The Mount school. However, it should be noted that the closure of a school is normally due to a range of factors and each of these would have been taken into consideration.

Most seemed to agree, however, that if The Mount school had not been closed, that the overcrowding problem would not be so severe.

Father Harri Williams of St Katherine and St Peter’s Church, speaking in his capacity as a governor of The Meads, said: “I was told by a Chief Executive of Pembrokeshire County Council that a Portakabin was no place to educate a child in the 21st century, but here we are 16 years into the 21st century talking about adding additional Portakabins to a school in Milford Haven.

Helen Hammond, trustee of the Diocese of Menevia by Bishop of Menevia, who has a granddaughter at St Francis school, said: “I would like to thank the council for including the parents of St Francis and teachers with the consultation but it has caused much anxiety. Any closure of the school would have to be in agreement with the trustees and bishop. I know that this would not be on the agenda of the diocese.”

Mr Sean McCarthy, governor at St Francis school, said that he was disappointed that it was seeming like St Francis was being sidelined. He said that it was obvious that the thrust of the debate was about what to do with The Meads and the junior school

Several parents with children in St Francis agreed with Mr McCarthy said they felt as though their views and the future of their children’s school was being treated as an afterthought. The parents were also unhappy about how the council’s consultation document was worded.

Sonja Groves, acting headteacher of the Meads, spoke passionately for a new school for all primary school children in the town with state of the art facilities. She said that plans should take into account the deprivation and suffering of many families in Milford Haven. She was given a loud round of applause.

She added: “There are many hardships in Milford Haven and parents on the breadline. The only way to break the cycle is to equip our parents with essential life skills and offer better health support and playground facilities. A super school would be rewarding and exciting but this would take commitment and money.”

The council said after the meeting: “We have committed to adding a further mobile classroom to The Meads to assist the school in accommodating pupils in the short term – this should be in place by September 2016.”

In relation to the question of a nursery at St Francis, a council spokesman stated: “Opening a nursery would effectively mean extending the age range of the school and requires full statutory process as part of the School Organisation Code.

“In view of the wider engagement in relation to provision in Milford Haven, it is sensible to cover all at the same time.

The spokesman added: “If, as a result of the current engagement, there is an appetite to extend the age range of St Francis School, then I would recommend that course of action to Council. It should be noted, however, that such an action would require a full statutory process to be conducted but that it would be sensible to include this as part of any additional proposal arising from the current engagement.

Headmaster of Milford Haven School, Mr Rod Francis, said: “I was disappointed to hear that the council are talking about signposting children from Milford Haven, who wish to be taught in the medium of Welsh, to Haverfordwest. I think it is important that Milford Haven stays together as a community.”