The Free Press has a genuine scoop on its front page this week. It's reporting proposals to cull seven primary schools, all broadly in Edeirnion though two of the seven—Ysgolion Betws GG and Bro Elwern—are also loosely within Rhuthun/Ruthin's area of influence. No word of the primaries near Rhuthun itself—but this will surely follow, as any school with a roll of less than 80 is thought unsafe.
There are those in the Corwen area who support the view that Edeirnion should move to Gwynedd. Corwen was, of course, in pre-1974 Sir Feirionnydd/Merionethshire (that became part of Gwynedd), not pre-1974 Sir Ddinbych/Denbighshire. Proposals to change the nature of primary schooling strike at the heart of any community and it's possible that this will foment calls to bring out the boundary maps.
But hang on. Gwynedd's going through a similar process. And Sir y Fflint/Flintshire, for that matter. And Conwy. And Wrecsam. And Powys. Supporters of small rural primaries see any closure as a threat equal to or even worse than the loss of the village shop and post office. Such community shopping facilities are going or long gone, the latest to close being in Pentrefoelas and Gwyddelwern, the latter affected by the current school proposals.
But, take a look at page 12 of the same edition of the Free Press. Here, like last week and the week before, are pictures of new starters at various schools. This week, we see five at Pentrefoelas (Conwy), seven at Cyffylliog, and six at Clocaenog. It was the same last year and in Y Bedol. Basically, penny numbers. While it might be a good thing to educate people in such small numbers when we can afford to do so, should we should now be moving towards larger primaries, schools that can offer better opportunities for pupils, a larger pool of teaching talent, a better calibre of headship, more resources and a preparedness for the huge cultural change at secondary level.
A comment in the Free Press report attributed to the assembly government says it all. Denbighshire county council would not attract any of the necessary £200mil funding for school investment unless and until "the issue of empty places is dealt with". There's a clear expectation to make changes, coming directly from Caerdydd/Cardiff. Time, then, to be brave?
There are those in the Corwen area who support the view that Edeirnion should move to Gwynedd. Corwen was, of course, in pre-1974 Sir Feirionnydd/Merionethshire (that became part of Gwynedd), not pre-1974 Sir Ddinbych/Denbighshire. Proposals to change the nature of primary schooling strike at the heart of any community and it's possible that this will foment calls to bring out the boundary maps.
But hang on. Gwynedd's going through a similar process. And Sir y Fflint/Flintshire, for that matter. And Conwy. And Wrecsam. And Powys. Supporters of small rural primaries see any closure as a threat equal to or even worse than the loss of the village shop and post office. Such community shopping facilities are going or long gone, the latest to close being in Pentrefoelas and Gwyddelwern, the latter affected by the current school proposals.
But, take a look at page 12 of the same edition of the Free Press. Here, like last week and the week before, are pictures of new starters at various schools. This week, we see five at Pentrefoelas (Conwy), seven at Cyffylliog, and six at Clocaenog. It was the same last year and in Y Bedol. Basically, penny numbers. While it might be a good thing to educate people in such small numbers when we can afford to do so, should we should now be moving towards larger primaries, schools that can offer better opportunities for pupils, a larger pool of teaching talent, a better calibre of headship, more resources and a preparedness for the huge cultural change at secondary level.
A comment in the Free Press report attributed to the assembly government says it all. Denbighshire county council would not attract any of the necessary £200mil funding for school investment unless and until "the issue of empty places is dealt with". There's a clear expectation to make changes, coming directly from Caerdydd/Cardiff. Time, then, to be brave?
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Education