COUNCILLORS have voted in favour of finding a new model of secondary school provision in Pembrokeshire.
Following the Council’s decision on May 12 to vote against plans to put sixth form provision in Pembrokeshire College,Councillor Paul Miller submitted a notice of motion calling for the council to look at providing an 11-19 school in Haverfordwest.

However, at Thursday’s (Jul 7) Extraordinary Council meeting, Councillors were told that they could not pass the notice of motion because it would go against the school re-organisation code.

Council Leader Jamie Adams tried to submit an amendment whereby the door was kept open for every opportunity, but that was ruled out by Chairman Tony Brinsden.

A motion was later tabled to include other areas of the county as well as Haverfordwest but some Councillors said they had come specifically to debate about the future of education in the town.

New Cabinet Member for Education, Councillor David Lloyd, spoke of the need for a county- wide model, adding: “I approached the leader to tell him I was prepared to assist in the development of a model for secondary education in Pembrokeshire that will be acceptable to this entire chamber. It is an urgent and serious task.
“With joined-up thinking, we could create a model that works.”

Councillor David Bryan said he was ‘sorry’ that lessons had not been learned from May 12, with Councillor Mike Stoddart adding: “We rejected the idea of an 11-16 school in Haverfordwest.”

There was also talk of Fishguard and St Davids being included in the new model, but Councillor Reg Owens said: “This feels like we are taking one step forward and two steps back. Fishguard and St Davids are done and dusted.

“On May 12, we rejected the proposals. There are certain people who want to put a stumbling block in the way. The people of Haverfordwest want sixth form education in the new school.”

After breaking for lunch, Council Leader Jamie Adams came back to c ouncil with the following amendment: “This Council task the Education Department to work up proposals for secondary school provision in Haverfordwest, Milford Haven, Pembroke, Tenby and Crymych and that regard is given to undertaking this provision with existing proposals for Fishguard and St Davids.”

Councillor Jacob Williams felt the amendment was not legitimate, adding: “There was a strong voice – a clear viewpoint – that they want an 11-19 school.”

Councillor Jonathan Nutting said he felt very upset about the advice they had been given by officers, saying that it had not done them any good at all. Cllr Mike Stoddart said this was a ‘wrecking amendment’ and added: “This is an attempt to do up the damage round the back door.”

Councillor John Allen-Mirehouse said that the amendment was the correct way forward and that it would lead to an improvement in standards of secondary schools.

Councillor Mike Evans called on the Haverfordwest councillors who had voted against the proposals on May 12 to do so again on Thursday.

Cllr Paul Miller concluded: “I still feel there is a majority in favour of an 11-19 school but the process has to start again and I hope we are not going to forget what went on at the previous meeting.”

Following a lengthy debate, the matter was put to a recorded vote. 28 members voted in favour while 20 voted against. Among those 20 were Haverfordwest Councillors David Edwards, Lyndon Frayling, Umelda Havard, and Steve Yelland.

The Council must now look at all options for sixth form provision across the county, with every outcome still possible. After the meeting, an opposition councillor told The Herald: “It is a shocking day for democracy in Pembrokeshire.”