Welsh Assembly asked to step in over Llanfyllin School row
A campaign group's fight to reverse a local authority's decision to stop a school subsiding transport for out-of-catchment pupils will be raised at the Welsh Assembly, a politician has pledged.
Russell George, assembly member for Montgomeryshire, has called on the Welsh Government to intervene in the row between Llanfyllin High and Powys County Council as campaigners edge closer to a legal battle against the authority's decision to stop the school subsidising its transport.
The row erupted after it was found that the school spent £500,000 out of its own budget to subsidise the cost of transport for 149 pupils from Shropshire.
Mr George warned of the 'significant ramifications' for pupils and parents if the decision was not overturned. "Families with more than two children in the school will be put in a position where they may have to find an extra £2,000 per year for school transport if their children are to continue their education at Llanfyllin," he said.
"As a result, parents may be forced to move their children from the school at a critical time in their education with some students studying GCSE and A-level subjects which are not available at other schools in the area.
"I'm also aware that some children who have special education needs would be affected. There are significant ramifications for students and parents and I'm urging the Welsh Government to intervene."
Mr George has vowed to raise the matter in the Senedd, and has also written to Kirsty Williams, the new Welsh Government Education Secretary, to see if she can look at the situation.
Last month the school was told to pay back £17,000 – half of the cost of the subsidised transport it will provide for out-of-catchment pupils from April to September – to the county council, as it was breaking the authority's rules.
The school was also told that it must also comply with county policy, which means pupils from outside its catchment area will have to pay for transport. This week the area's MP Glyn Davies also threw his backing behind the campaign.
"Councillors have decided that no money should be spent on transport, which will make it impossible for many students to attend Llanfyllin. Or many existing students to stay," he said.
"Llanfyllin is overflowing with anger and resentment towards Powys County Council and I have great sympathy with the people of Llanfyllin over this," he added.
An independent report into the circumstances of the school's use of delegated school funds to subsidise school transport is expected to be published next week.
