Over the weekend I launched my rural schools campaign. Rural schools closure is a policy that has been adopted by the Plaid Cymru-run Gwynedd Council for many many years and has resulted in schools in coastal Meirionnydd, to the east of the county and in the Llyn Peninsula close.
Ysgol Abersoch is the latest school penned for closure. There seems to be no end in sight.
Now let me be clear- schools need to be viable. But short-term cost implications ignore the work that needs to be done NOW on the regeneration of rural communities. We need to stop the one-way decline of our schools system. What will happen in five years time? Will Ysgol Sarn Bach close too? Politics is personal. My primary school in Stackpole has closed too- my dad was headteacher when I was there, and it was running with over 100 pupils. I am only 27- this was not long ago. It has now closed. I can't tell you enough about the first class education I received there.
A schools system with only big, town schools (which is the path we are going down) makes our communities less interesting, less diverse and with potentially worse results. That's not to bash bigger schools either- but parental choice should be at the heart of our education system. I would encourage all to think not just of the sums, but of the bigger picture. If we truly regenerate our rural communities where families can lay down roots, create those jobs and opportunities in rural Gwynedd, then there will be future need for our rural schools.
Moreover, I do not believe Gwynedd Council can possibly run an effective consultation on Ysgol Abersoch when in lockdown. The strength of feeling cannot be communicated over Zoom adequately, so I do hope councillors will at least wait a few months to allow parents and the community the opportunity to have their say in person.
To get further updates on my campaign, please subscribe. Fill in the petition below!
