COLUMN: 'I'm not happy with sixth forms, school transport plans'

Montgomeryshire MS Russell George shares his views on the latest challenges facing local education.

"Powys County Council have published options and their preferred way forward for post 16 education.

The council's preferred option involves closing all sixth forms across Powys and establishing new post-16 centres in Newtown and Brecon, in partnership with NPTC (who have college sites in both towns). The proposal includes a different approach for Welsh Medium education.

Schools in Powys do need urgent improvements. This was the recent view of the national inspection body, Estyn, who raised ‘significant concerns’ about the Liberal Democrat-lead Council, and education services.

There is a necessity for change and a need to enhance and support post-16 provision in Powys, but I remain unconvinced that this is the best course of action, and there seems to be little evidence that the council’s preferred option of closing sixth forms would address Estyn’s recommendations.

There are several excellent sixth forms within the county that should be supported and allowed to flourish, rather than being closed. Additionally, the viability of high schools without sixth form provision needs much further consideration.

I believe that a diverse range of delivery models for post-16 education across Powys would be more beneficial. A mix of sixth forms and tertiary education would provide young people with genuine choices within the county. The proposed two-hub model and potential transportation charges for post-16 education might drive more students to pursue their education in England.

The council has indicated that there will be an ‘engagement’ process later this year, which will inform a broader formal consultation. It is essential that this consultation is genuine and that all residents’ views are meaningfully considered before any decisions are made. The ultimate decisions on school re-organisation proposals rest predominantly with the Liberal Democrat and Labour council. I will continue to advocate for genuine consultations where all parents and communities are heard.

As the council’s school re-organisation proposals have progressed, I have asked the council to further review their Free Home to School transport policy as the current policy which is based on school catchment areas for feeder schools is still denying free home to school transport for a number of children. Parents continue to contact me following the council refusing to provide free home to school transport in many areas.

There should be far more flexibility applied by the council in my view, because of marginal distances involved, or to ensure reasonable choice of accessing education in the parent/pupil’s choice of language, or to avoid siblings being split up. I have asked for the council to re-consider their decisions and to be more open to providing free transport to a child/parents’ choice of school.

In some instances, appeals have been won by parents. However, from my perspective, there does not seem to be a consistent approach being applied by the council.

In some areas, parents have greater choice than other areas and for some individual cases, the council has overturned its original decision but for others, with similar circumstances, they have not.

Unfortunately, this means that there is a risk that children will have to go to a different school to their sibling(s) or a parent would have to travel behind a bus taking one sibling to school separately. This seems to work against one of the Council’s visions to become a ‘greener Powys’.

In terms of the influence which I am able to exert, I will continue to take up matters with the relevant political leaders in order to support individual cases where I believe that the council needs to be more flexible. I will also continue to highlight the concerns in the Welsh Parliament."