18-pupil Pontfadog School to find out its fate

Pontfadog School is set to have its doors closed when a meeting of Wrexham Council's executive board discusses the Ceiriog Valley Federation consultation today.

The plan is to close the school and relocate pupils to Cynnddelw, after a vote was passed earlier this year.

If the changes go ahead, Pontfadog will take in its last intake in September and then close in summer 2019.

Today's meeting in Wrexham will discuss the school's fate, but also the consultation and response to the plans.

In total 1,349 objections have been received to the plans, as locals have rallied around in a bid to knock the plans back.

The council will take into account the responses, but have said that the current model is not sustainable, with Pontfadog having just 18 pupils.

The report says: "Having explored the options available to the federation, to ensure sustainability in the immediate future, providing the most effective and efficient education services to the pupils of the Ceiriog Valley, members are asked to consider the responses received and the resulting recommendations.

"There is a growing Welsh medium demand in the Ceiriog Valley and the English medium numbers are dropping as a consequence at both Ysgol Pontfadog and within the Ysgol Cynddelw English medium stream.

"Sustainability has become a significant issue within the federation and other models for delivery need to be explored.

"There are currently just 18 pupils accessing Ysgol Pontfadog; this model is not sustainable.

"There is a requirement to make teaching and learning as effective and as efficient as possible whilst enhancing the learning experiences of the pupils in larger social groups."

The closure of the school would also net the council a £100,000 saving.

A decision will be made at the meeting today, where there is expected to be opposition to the move.