Petition and protests fail to prevent closure of small rural school near Tegryn

PEMBROKESHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL has voted to close Ysgol Clydau despite strong opposition from parents and residents who argued the rural school plays a vital role in the local community.

Councillors approved the closure at a full meeting of Pembrokeshire County Council on Thursday (Mar 5), following a consultation process that drew hundreds of responses and a community campaign to save the small rural school near Tegryn.

Addressing the chamber, Cllr Guy Woodham acknowledged the sensitivity of the issue.

“Any proposal to close a school is emotive,” he told councillors, noting that the report before members summarised consultation responses and the council’s responses to concerns raised by parents, residents and other consultees.

One of the most frequently raised issues during the consultation was the role the school plays in local identity and community life. Respondents argued that rural schools often act as a focal point for their communities and help sustain village life.

However, council officers said that while the school contributes to community identity, it currently hosts relatively few community activities. They pointed out that nearby Carnarvon Hall already provides a venue for a wide range of classes and events and could continue to do so if the school closes.

It was also suggested that the school building itself could potentially be used for community purposes if another organisation or group expressed an interest in taking it over.

Concerns were also raised about the potential impact on pupils with additional learning needs (ALN). Parents said the small size of the school provides a nurturing and personalised environment that may be difficult to replicate in a larger setting.

Council officers acknowledged those concerns but said pupils could also benefit from the wider range of resources, specialist staff and development opportunities available in larger schools.

A transition plan will be developed to ensure individual pupils’ needs are identified and supported during and after the move to another school.

Transport and travel times were another major concern raised during the consultation, with parents highlighting longer journeys for pupils and questioning the suitability of arrangements for younger children.

The council said pupils who meet eligibility criteria will receive free school transport, with routes and pick-up arrangements designed with safety and age considerations in mind.

Some respondents also argued that alternative solutions, including federation with other schools, had not been fully considered.

Officers said a number of alternative proposals were examined during the consultation process but were not considered viable.

Residents also raised concerns that planned housing development opposite the school could increase pupil numbers in the future.

However, council forecasts suggest the development would generate only around two additional pupils, which officers said would not significantly affect the school’s viability.

Some parents indicated they might consider home education if the school closes, particularly those with children who experience anxiety or require additional support.

The council said it would provide information and support to help families make informed decisions and ensure they are aware of Welsh-language education options available elsewhere.

Questions were also raised about the financial case for the closure and whether projected savings adequately accounted for increased transport costs and other factors.

Council officers said the financial assessment presented to councillors includes those additional costs.

Some respondents also questioned the fairness and transparency of the consultation process, suggesting the outcome had already been decided.

Officers rejected that suggestion, stating that the consultation had been carried out in accordance with the Welsh Government’s School Organisation Code and that the final decision rested with councillors.

Pupils’ views were also gathered during the consultation through two sessions facilitated by a school improvement adviser, with responses recorded anonymously and included in the consultation report.

The proposal to close the school has been strongly contested over the past year. A petition opposing the closure received more than 600 responses on the council’s website, triggering a debate at County Hall, while campaigners warned the loss of the school would “pluck the heart out of the community”.

Preseli Pembrokeshire MS Paul Davies previously criticised the proposal, describing Ysgol Clydau as a crucial part of the local community and warning that closure could have a significant impact on the area.

Council figures show pupil numbers at the school have declined in recent years, forming part of the authority’s wider review of education provision and surplus school places across the county.

Despite the concerns raised, councillors voted to approve the closure.

Further details about the timeline for the closure and arrangements for pupils currently attending Ysgol Clydau are expected to be confirmed by the council.

Launch comes as one in four students in Wales declares a disability

A NEW public-sector backed organisation has been launched with the aim of improving access to vital support for disabled students in Wales.

The initiative comes as figures show that one in four students in Wales now declares a known disability, highlighting growing pressure on universities and support services.

Since 2020, the number of students in Wales reporting a disability has risen by 26 per cent, creating what campaigners describe as a widening accessibility gap within higher education.

The situation reflects a broader challenge across the UK. Research suggests nearly two thirds of students with disabilities have not benefited from adjustment support because the process of securing help can be difficult. Meanwhile, 42 per cent of students with a declared disability say delays in accessing support have negatively affected their studies.

To address the problem, Impact Student Partners has launched a partnership-based approach designed to improve the delivery of Non-Medical Help (NMH) — the specialist human support provided to enable disabled students to access their studies.

The organisation will work with universities, support workers and students to provide a more personalised approach to matching support staff with those who need assistance. The model also includes improved communication with students and job-seeking support for graduates.

Charlie Bentham-Wood, founder of Impact Student Partners, said the increase in disability declarations reflected growing demand for better support systems within universities.

“This steady rise in Wales, where a quarter of students now declare a disability, highlights the challenges many students face,” he said.

“Research shows students often encounter barriers when trying to access reasonable adjustments at university. Demand has also increased significantly for Disabled Students Allowance-funded support through Student Finance Wales, particularly for students experiencing mental health conditions.

“Our role is to help ensure students in Wales receive the support they need and reduce the barriers they may face during their studies.”

Impact Student Partners is owned by Commercial Services Group, a council-owned organisation which returns its surplus profits to the public sector.

Students eligible for Non-Medical Help include those with conditions such as dyslexia, diagnosed neurodivergence and traumatic brain injuries. Support can include specialist tutoring, mentoring and learning assistance tailored to individual needs, including autism and neurodiversity-informed approaches.

One of the major obstacles facing students is a lack of awareness about the support available, both among students themselves and within universities.

Bentham-Wood said many students currently rely on informal support networks because accessing official help can be difficult.

“We know that a large number of students depend on informal support services, partly because sourcing Non-Medical Help can be challenging,” he said.

“Our mission is to make sure everyone who could benefit from this assistance knows it exists and understands how straightforward it can be to access.”

He added that the organisation has developed a growing network of trained professionals across Wales and the wider UK and plans to expand further as demand increases.

“We believe everyone has enormous potential. Through our partnership approach we want to create opportunities that help students thrive.”

More information about Impact Student Partners is available at:
https://commercialservicesgroup.com/ or by contacting [email protected].

THE CLOCK is ticking on the future of Manorbier Church in Wales VC School as Pembrokeshire County Council debates a decision that could lead to the school’s permanent closure.

Dozens of parents, residents and campaigners gathered outside County Hall in Haverfordwest ahead of today’s meeting (Thursday, March 5), in a last-ditch effort to halt the proposed closure. Their placards read “Save our school” and “Rural schools matter”. 

Inside, councillors sat debating the school’s future, which has served the community of Manorbier since January, 1877.

The council report outlines the results of a statutory consultation on a proposal to discontinue the school altogether. Councillors must now decide whether to proceed with the closure process, abandon the proposal, or significantly change the plan and consult again.

Fire and temporary classrooms

Manorbier School has been operating from Jameston Community Hall since the fire destroyed large parts of the original building in October, 2022.

The historic school building was already considered to be in poor condition before the blaze, according to the council report. Ownership of the building lies with the St Davids Diocesan Board of Finance.

Council officers argue that closing the school could represent better value for money, noting that nearby schools have spare capacity and that maintaining or rebuilding the facility may not be financially viable.

If councillors authorise the next stage, the Director of Education will publish a statutory notice proposing the discontinuation of the school, triggering a further 28-day objection period before a final decision is made.

Strong opposition from community

The consultation process revealed overwhelming opposition to the closure proposal.

A total of 252 responses were submitted, with more than ninety per cent opposing the plan to discontinue the school. A petition has also been submitted, signed by more than 1,500 people.

Many respondents described Manorbier as a small, nurturing school particularly suited to pupils who need additional support. Others warned that closure would damage the community and reduce the attractiveness of the area for young families.

Campaigners have also questioned the council’s financial arguments and believe insurance money from the fire should be used to rebuild the school.

Concerns were also raised about transport, with parents warning that narrow roads and longer journeys to alternative schools could create safety issues and undermine efforts to encourage sustainable travel.

However, a smaller number of respondents supported the proposal, arguing that pupils could benefit from larger schools with broader extracurricular opportunities and wider friendship groups.

Jobs also at risk

If the closure eventually goes ahead, staff positions at the school could be at risk of redundancy, although the council says efforts would be made to redeploy employees wherever possible.

Council officers maintain that discontinuing the school would provide a more sustainable model for education provision in the area, taking into account the condition of the buildings, available school places and overall value for money.

For parents protesting outside County Hall, however, the issue is about far more than finances.

They say losing the school would mean the loss of a vital community asset and could change the character of the village for generations to come.

The council is expected to decide whether to proceed with the statutory notice in the coming weeks. If it does, the final decision on the future of Manorbier School will return to councillors later this year after the objection period has concluded.