Thursday
25
April
New schools organisation policy launched
17/08/2019 @ 10:04
A new schools organisation policy that will affect schools in Newtown has been adopted as part of Powys County Council’s Vision 2025.
Key parts of the policy include a delivery plan that will include priorities such as secondary schools becoming “all through schools”, small primary schools becoming part of formal collaboration, federations or amalgamations, and the removal of infant and junior splits by creating all through primary schools.
In addition, it sets out plans for new Welsh-medium provision, the improvement of the schools estate, a new model for delivering post-16 provision and transforming the delivery of support for pupils with additional learning needs.
The policy, set our by Cllr Myfanwy Alexander, portfolio holder for education, also says it wants to encourage schools to share staff and services between more than one school to make them more efficient, as well as developing ICT links between school sites.
As reported by MyNewtown this week, the policy does not rule out school closures in the future. However, it states: “The Council recognises that in rural areas a school may also be the main focal point for community activity, and its closure could have implications beyond the issue of the provision of education, particularly if the school buildings are used as a place to provide services to the local community.”
Cllr Alexander said: “This is an exciting and inspiring time for education in Powys and Wales. A national educational reform is underway, with a new mission for education, a new curriculum and significant changes to the way support for learners with additional learning needs will be delivered.
“However, there are also significant challenges facing us, in particular financial pressures, as the Council seeks to balance the needs of a rural authority such as Powys with the reality of reducing funding.
“This new policy represents a change in the council’s approach to developing schools to meet the challenges ahead.
“We wish to work with schools and communities to develop a positive and innovative network of schools, with schools, families, communities and businesses working together to create a system that is accessible, integrated and responsive, initially focussing on new models of delivering education which would see the retention of provision in rural areas.”
Key parts of the policy include a delivery plan that will include priorities such as secondary schools becoming “all through schools”, small primary schools becoming part of formal collaboration, federations or amalgamations, and the removal of infant and junior splits by creating all through primary schools.
In addition, it sets out plans for new Welsh-medium provision, the improvement of the schools estate, a new model for delivering post-16 provision and transforming the delivery of support for pupils with additional learning needs.The policy, set our by Cllr Myfanwy Alexander, portfolio holder for education, also says it wants to encourage schools to share staff and services between more than one school to make them more efficient, as well as developing ICT links between school sites.
As reported by MyNewtown this week, the policy does not rule out school closures in the future. However, it states: “The Council recognises that in rural areas a school may also be the main focal point for community activity, and its closure could have implications beyond the issue of the provision of education, particularly if the school buildings are used as a place to provide services to the local community.”
Cllr Alexander said: “This is an exciting and inspiring time for education in Powys and Wales. A national educational reform is underway, with a new mission for education, a new curriculum and significant changes to the way support for learners with additional learning needs will be delivered.
“However, there are also significant challenges facing us, in particular financial pressures, as the Council seeks to balance the needs of a rural authority such as Powys with the reality of reducing funding.
“This new policy represents a change in the council’s approach to developing schools to meet the challenges ahead.
“We wish to work with schools and communities to develop a positive and innovative network of schools, with schools, families, communities and businesses working together to create a system that is accessible, integrated and responsive, initially focussing on new models of delivering education which would see the retention of provision in rural areas.”
Photo: Newtown High School, one of several schools in the town that will be part of the new Powys schools organisational policy
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