"Transport costs threaten school's future" - parent

The future of Llanfyllin High School could be under threat following the decision by Powys County Council to stop the school funding transport for pupils.

Governors must pay back £17,000 into the school’s budget after spending nearly £500,000 over five years bussing in pupils from outside the catchment area.

They now plan to charge parents £660 per pupil to provide a transport service, sparking fears for the school’s future from one angry parent.

Powys County Council ordered the repayment (half the school's designated budget from April 1, 2016) after the school was accused of breaking EU and council rules by subsidising transport, but school governors claimed Powys was aware of the actions and claim any repayment could penalise pupils.

The school was told it would also have to comply with the council's transport policy from the start of the 2016/2017 academic year - meaning no further subsidised transport for pupils outside the catchment area.

Now parents have been called to a meeting at the school on Thursday, May 12 to discuss the increases.

“Many families, some of whom would face a bill of almost £2,000 a year for three children, are already talking about having no choice but to move their kids to different school mid-way through their education,” said Vanessa Thomas.

“It is particularly worrying for families with children doing GCSE & A level courses.

“This comes after Powys County Council has looked at closing Llanfyllin Sixth Form and closing the Welsh Unit.

“It could result in a huge drop in pupil numbers and it is hard not to see it as another attempt by the council to run down and ultimately close one of the top performing high schools in the county,” said Mrs Thomas who lives in Guilsfield and already takes her child two miles to catch the transport every day.

The Friends of Llanfyllin High School Group have also organised a meeting for Thursday night at a venue yet to be confirmed.

The decision prompted Llafyllin Councillor and school governor Darren Mayor to resign in protest from Powys County Council Cabinet.

The council investigated the school's accounts after being contacted by the Wales Audit Office and found it had spent more than £460,000 during a five-year period subsiding transport to pupils from outside catchment.

The dual-stream school - which has more than 80% of pupils in the English stream and fewer than 20% in the Welsh stream - has more than 800 students on its register.

A statement from Powys County Council said:

Cabinet confirms its decisions taken on 22nd March 2016, that require the governors of Llanfyllin High School to:

1. ensure that by the start of the 2016/17 academic year, the school is fully compliant with PCC policy with regards the use of delegated funds by schools in relation to home to school transport; and

Advise how Llanfyllin High School proposes to address the issue of compliance with EU procurement procedures.

2. That Governors take action to reimburse the schools delegated budget for 50% the cost of subsidised transport from the 1st April 2016, the method of recovery would be a matter for the school.

3. That monthly meetings be held between council officers and school representatives to review expenditure and income to ensure compliance with the Scheme for the Financing of Schools. Regular reports of these meetings be submitted to Cabinet and Audit Committee.

4. To ensure future compliance with Scheme for the financing of schools, the school be required to use the Council’s financial system as its primary accounting system.

5. The school provide documentary evidence to demonstrate compliance with financial regulations and/or EU procurement procedures in relation to the procurement of transport at the school in general, but in particular in relation to home to school transport arrangements made by the school.

Picture captions:

Llanfyllin High School

Angry parent Vanessa Thomas

Councillor Darren Mayor