A SUPPLY teacher working in Powys says that plans to close schools in the county would destroy communities.
As a supply teacher currently working in both Powys and Shropshire, Zarena Allen said she has had experience of both counties’ systems first hand.
She said: “Those in Wales are already disadvantaged as the funding is so much less per child than in England.
“A considerable amount is creamed off by the Welsh government for administrative purposes.
“These schools are functioning very well, have good inspection results, good exam results and are oversubscribed.
“There are parents taking their children out of Shropshire schools to send them to Llanfyllin because of its excellent reputation, built over many years,” she said.
Zarena, who attended the recent public meeting over the issue at Llanfyllin, warned the proposed changes would result in ‘massive destruction’ to communities.
She said: “Much economic activity is driven by schools. The educated young people take up jobs in the area or go to university and return to set up businesses and improve the local economy.
“If the closures go ahead there will a massive de-skilling of the young people in the area. The more mobile families will leave the area looking for better opportunities for their children, and we will be left with an uneducated, shrinking and ageing population,” she added.
Zarena said she felt the proposals were partly driven by the new 14-19 curriculum, which aims to offer a greater range of choice to pupils, but makes provision of both Welsh and English options a challenge. She said she believed passionately that the two languages should not be split.
Welcome
She said: “Mr (Carl) Mincher, the head of Llanfyllin High School, has been working to provide this curriculum ahead of schedule, working with the nearest schools in Caereinion and Welshpool to provide minority subjects and improve provision of A-level subjects in the Welsh medium.
“It appears Powys Council feels English and Welsh language teaching needs to be separated. How is that going to promote communities working and living together in harmony?
“I am English by birth, have felt welcome here and learnt Welsh at evening classes, as have a lot of newcomers to the area. We need to encourage such a society where cultures mix and appreciate their differences and similarities, rather than creating a segregated education leading to a segregated community.
“Powys LEA itself spends a large proportion of the education budget handed over from Cardiff on central administration, rather than passing it on to schools. “Before such radical proposals to wreck the education of children in North Powys are enacted, attention should be focused on the LEA to see what savings could be made in the authority.
“A new look needs to be taken at the whole funding situation in Powys Council and a more rational plan must be formulated for the sake of the future of the whole of North Powys,” she said.