Schools axe plan hits staff morale
Saturday 23rd January 2010, 9:30AM GMT.
Pupils have been left devastated and staff morale at five Powys high schools threatened with closure has sunk to an all time low, it has been claimed.
More than 200 people attended a public meeting in Newtown last night in response to plans to close schools at Llanidloes, Crickhowell, Gwernyfed, Llanfyllin or Llanfair Caereinion and Llandrindod Wells or Builth Wells.
Sixth forms at every school across the county could also shut, with pupils being sent to the three Coleg Powys sites.
The debate, which was attended by teachers, parents, students and councillors, took place at Plas Dolerw and was chaired by Montgomeryshire MP Lembit Opik.
Earlier this week, Powys County Council confirmed it would be reviewing secondary education because of falling pupil numbers and spiralling costs. But it has insisted that it is “far too early” for a decision.
At the meeting Mr Opik said he hoped to produce his own review document and appealed for people to help.
Ann Roberts, a teacher and the assistant head of sixth form at Llanfyllin High School, said staff morale had “hit rock bottom”. She said: “Staff have been left feeling extremely concerned.”
Councillor Margot Jones of Llanidloes said the town had been left feeling “unhappy”.
She said: “Children have been feeling very upset since the news became public.”
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Schools in villages etc should not be closed it is all wrong and we will see the results in the next 10 years or so.
As for the staff and low morale they must leave that at the gate they are still being paid to carry out a job and as such the children,parents,etc should expect a proffesional attitude at all times.
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As a pupil at one of the schools threatened with closure, Mr Finch should look at it from the point of view of the teachers. If you were faced with the loss of your job and of your livelihood, I would expect that your morale would be rock bottom, and it isn’t helped by people like yourself taking this point of view.
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