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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| School closures 'benefit' pupils | School closures 'benefit' pupils |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| The closure of small schools in Wales is "overwhelmingly beneficial", new research has suggested. | The closure of small schools in Wales is "overwhelmingly beneficial", new research has suggested. |
| The Institute of Welsh Affairs (IWA) report claims the quality and standard of education had improved when small schools merged into larger ones. | The Institute of Welsh Affairs (IWA) report claims the quality and standard of education had improved when small schools merged into larger ones. |
| Researchers interviewed teachers, pupils and parents at schools shut in Powys and Pembrokeshire. | Researchers interviewed teachers, pupils and parents at schools shut in Powys and Pembrokeshire. |
| Campaigners have attacked the study which comes as dozens of small schools are considered for closure. | Campaigners have attacked the study which comes as dozens of small schools are considered for closure. |
| Gwynedd Council has begun the process of trying to close 29 small and mainly rural schools and closure programmes are also being carried out elsewhere in Wales. | Gwynedd Council has begun the process of trying to close 29 small and mainly rural schools and closure programmes are also being carried out elsewhere in Wales. |
| The institute undertook the research to discover if fears over the effects on the local community, culture, language and education of the children when a small school closed came true. | The institute undertook the research to discover if fears over the effects on the local community, culture, language and education of the children when a small school closed came true. |
| But results suggested the communities were worrying needlessly, particularly about the future of the Welsh language. | But results suggested the communities were worrying needlessly, particularly about the future of the Welsh language. |
| "It is clear that the apocalyptic predictions about the impact of small school closures on the Welsh language and communities are not borne out by our sample," said Professor David Reynolds, who led the project. | "It is clear that the apocalyptic predictions about the impact of small school closures on the Welsh language and communities are not borne out by our sample," said Professor David Reynolds, who led the project. |
| "No parent or child thought the position of the language was worse after reorganisation. | "No parent or child thought the position of the language was worse after reorganisation. |
| "This is an extraordinary finding given the public debate on this issue." | "This is an extraordinary finding given the public debate on this issue." |
| SUMMARY OF RESPONSES Increase in education quality: 95% Pembs; 84% PowysBetter education standards achieved: 76%; 63% Improvement in social factors: 95%; 68% Enhancement of Welsh language: 61% 63% Source: IWA - Small School Closure in Wales: New Evidence. | SUMMARY OF RESPONSES Increase in education quality: 95% Pembs; 84% PowysBetter education standards achieved: 76%; 63% Improvement in social factors: 95%; 68% Enhancement of Welsh language: 61% 63% Source: IWA - Small School Closure in Wales: New Evidence. |
| The research was undertaken at three schools in Pembrokeshire and Powys, with interviews with two governors, teachers, parents and pupils at each. | The research was undertaken at three schools in Pembrokeshire and Powys, with interviews with two governors, teachers, parents and pupils at each. |
| The study also looked at the impact a school closure had on the local community, and found those surveyed actually reported an improvement. | The study also looked at the impact a school closure had on the local community, and found those surveyed actually reported an improvement. |
| "There are many examples within Wales of strong, vital, connected communities that have no local school at all," said the report. | "There are many examples within Wales of strong, vital, connected communities that have no local school at all," said the report. |
| "It is the people not a school building who surely create a community." | "It is the people not a school building who surely create a community." |
| And it said that an "idealised" view of Wales' rural past heightened fears of a loss of the community when a school was proposed for closure. | And it said that an "idealised" view of Wales' rural past heightened fears of a loss of the community when a school was proposed for closure. |
| "This may lead us to be over anxious to hold onto what remains of the past, even though it may involve a 100-year-old school which is now unfit for purpose," said the report. | "This may lead us to be over anxious to hold onto what remains of the past, even though it may involve a 100-year-old school which is now unfit for purpose," said the report. |
| "The needs of children - not their parents, communities or any other public interests - should be considered above all others." | "The needs of children - not their parents, communities or any other public interests - should be considered above all others." |
| Other fears identified showed that the school closure debate in Wales typically celebrated "the small" without understanding the advantages of "the larger". | Other fears identified showed that the school closure debate in Wales typically celebrated "the small" without understanding the advantages of "the larger". |
| "However, in the area of education, 'bigger' can also be beautiful," said the report. | "However, in the area of education, 'bigger' can also be beautiful," said the report. |
| Reaction | Reaction |
| It says larger schools provide efficiencies of scale, a "critical mass of resources" that enables one-off expenditures of scale that would not be possible in smaller settings. | It says larger schools provide efficiencies of scale, a "critical mass of resources" that enables one-off expenditures of scale that would not be possible in smaller settings. |
| But the report also argues that children in small schools stand a greater chance of being educated in multi-age classes and have a smaller pool from which to draw friends. | But the report also argues that children in small schools stand a greater chance of being educated in multi-age classes and have a smaller pool from which to draw friends. |
| They also offered access to a more restricted range of teachers and to fewer extra curricular activities. | They also offered access to a more restricted range of teachers and to fewer extra curricular activities. |
| Teachers in small schools have a more difficult professional role, caused by the multiplicity of specialisms, while small schools tend to be housed in older, more unsuitable buildings, said the report. | Teachers in small schools have a more difficult professional role, caused by the multiplicity of specialisms, while small schools tend to be housed in older, more unsuitable buildings, said the report. |
| But Jeff Green, a parent, who is actively involved in trying to save his local primary, Howey Primary School, near Llandrindod Wells, Powys, said if the school shut the area would turn into "a ghost town". | But Jeff Green, a parent, who is actively involved in trying to save his local primary, Howey Primary School, near Llandrindod Wells, Powys, said if the school shut the area would turn into "a ghost town". |
| "The village has one pub, one restaurant, a post office and a school," said Mr Green. | "The village has one pub, one restaurant, a post office and a school," said Mr Green. |
| "And the school really is the life blood of the place. If that closes then the post office will probably close too." | "And the school really is the life blood of the place. If that closes then the post office will probably close too." |
| The Welsh Language Society (Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg) has questioned the objectivity of the research. | The Welsh Language Society (Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg) has questioned the objectivity of the research. |
| It claims the closure of a small rural school almost inevitably leads to the closure of other services such as shops and post offices. | It claims the closure of a small rural school almost inevitably leads to the closure of other services such as shops and post offices. |
| The society's Dyfed organiser, Angharad Clwyd, said: "The village where I grew up lost its school four years ago. | The society's Dyfed organiser, Angharad Clwyd, said: "The village where I grew up lost its school four years ago. |
| "Immediately afterwards the shop and post office closed, the community of children have been broken up as they have been sent to different schools, and we can see the language of the children on the street changing." | "Immediately afterwards the shop and post office closed, the community of children have been broken up as they have been sent to different schools, and we can see the language of the children on the street changing." |