• MCC decided to review vacant places in Primary Schools in the Bryn y Cwm area but only look at schools outside Abergavenny – this is illogical, particularly as one Abergavenny school has 100 vacancies
     
  • They rushed to do the review before they looked at re-assessing the capacity of schools and before the Local Development Plans for Monmouthshire and Brecon Beacons are finalised next year!
     
  • They held 4 meetings attended by County Councillors who looked at reports which contained many factual errors; they also visited the schools under consideration – the smallest and the one in the worst condition and ‘not fit for purpose’ was Llanfair Kilgeddin.
     
  • The Cabinet considered a report recommending that Llanover, Llanfair Kilgeddin and Govilon be considered for closure; Cabinet made illogical decision to ‘reprieve’ Llanfair Kilgeddin! Because, they said, it is the only Voluntary Aided Church School in the north of the County. They were told there are there are other (large and  more modern) Church Schools in the area but they disagreed and went ahead
     
  • Govilon School Action Group (GSAG) was formed following a packed village meeting.
     
  • Cabinet started informal consultations; they sent letters to parents and a held badly advertised ‘public meeting’ in Govilon; thanks to local volunteers letting people know it was well attended. LEA Officers and Cabinet Member for Education unable to give satisfactory answers to many questions. Over 60 letters of protest then sent in by Govilon people
     
  • 24th June I spoke at Cabinet and argued that the Review was so flawed and so badly handled that parents and staff, had no confidence in the LEA or the process. Cabinet however decided to start the statutory consultation on Govilon and Llanover Schools
     
  • I have now, supported by some other Councillors, challenged that decision because it is a bad decision and is also against natural justice to have a ‘consultation’ during the school holidays. This challenge will be heard by a Select Committee on 16th July at 10.00am; this may delay the formal process until after the school holidays
     
  • We know that letters have been prepared to go out to parents on the day of the Select Committee (last day of term) to start the Consultation process.  I have also formally complained about this and at the time of writing do not know what they will do.
     

Parents have been upset by this botched process; some have moved their children because they are afraid that MCC has got their sums wrong & they may not be able to get their children into nearby schools. We all understand the concern of parents but Please Don’t Panic. Inspection Reports say that Govilon is a very good school and we know the case for keeping it open is good.  Nothing can possibly happen to Govilon School until (at the very earliest) the Winter of 2010/11.

DON’T PANIC THE FINAL DECISION WILL BE MADE BY THE MINISTER IN THE WELSH ASSEMBLY GOVERNMENT AND NOT MCC AND WE HAVE A VERY GOOD CASE