Powys County Council accused of school closure 'whitewash'

The headteacher of a Mid Wales primary school threatened with closure today claimed the consultation procedure by Powys County Council is simply a whitewash.

John Parkinson, who helped save Llangedwyn School 13 years ago, said he feared for the education of children living in the county if the current proposals to shut schools went ahead.

And he claims the proposals are purely financially driven.

Llangedwyn, which has 30 pupils, is among a handful of primary schools threatened with closure. Others include Aberhafesp, near Newtown, Llanfechain, near Llanfyllin and Castle Caereinion, near Welshpool.

Mr Parkinson is retiring at Easter but today said: "It will break my heart if the school closes."

He became head in 1998 when there was a closure order on the school which he fought to see lifted and drove pupil numbers up to 56.

"I have absolutely no confidence in the direction that Powys County Council is taking and I really fear for the education of children across Powys," he said.

"This is a purely financial and short-term proposal. Our budget has been cut year-on-year with inflation, or less than inflation, increases.

"There is no vision at the council. The school is at the heart of the community and the council should be evolving a strategy for the whole rural community. The conception that bigger is better is fine in big business but our commodity is human beings — children."

Mr Parkinson added: "The consultation process is not really consultation.

"A report to the board had already said that officers would meet with governors with the expectation that the school will close in August 2012."

Councillor David Jones, the county's board member for schools, said: "Closing a school is something that is never considered lightly but we have a duty to ensure our school network is capable of delivering high educational standards at a price we can afford."

The schools have nearly 300 surplus places. Reducing that total could save up to £1 million to reinvest in other schools.

By Sue Austin