Packed meeting to save Welshpool sixth form

Parents, students, teachers and governors packed out a school hall to save sixth form education at a Mid Wales school.

About 100 people attended the summit at Welshpool High School with a strong message for council chiefs considering a shake-up of secondary and sixth form education: "If it isn't broken, don't fix it." The meeting heard how a post-16 education hub would be created.

It would be at either Welshpool High School or Llanfyllin High School to provide A-level courses, with greatly reduced options offered at the other.

But Jim Toal, Welshpool High School headteacher, argued: "I am fighting for the wonderful learners at Welshpool.

"We are one of the biggest towns, most heavily populated, surely the hub should be where the demand and population is."

Francesca Jump, a school governor, added: "This is a marvellous school. If it isn't broken, why fix it?"

County and town councillor, Ann Holloway used to teach at the school.

She said: "The pupils are so happy here, so why change it?"

Sue Phillips, a parent at the school, said: "Sixth formers are such wonderful role models for the younger children at the schools and I think it would be a great shame to lose them at either school."

Welsh medium education was also discussed at the meeting amid claims some schools would lose the provision.

Jenny Robinson-Harding, a future parent, said she wanted guarantees that parents would not have to foot the bill to send children to another school which teaches Welsh. She was told by the panel that the county council would pay for transport.

Powys County Council will be holding meetings at all 13 secondary schools and Coleg Powys campuses across the county up until May.

Controversial plans to radically transform secondary education in Powys, which could result in the closure of sixth forms, have already been approved by councillors.

Management could also be streamlined and schools merged.

By Andrew Morris