Reprieve joy for Vale schools campaigners (From Barry And District News)

Reprieve joy for Oak Field, Llanfair and Llancarfan schools campaigners

11:30am Thursday 7th March 2013 in News

THREE Vale schools threatened with closure are to stay open.

More than 100 campaigners marched on the civic offices in Barry on Monday to hear councillors announce a reprieve for Oak Field, Llanfair and Llancarfan primaries.

At the meeting cabinet members declared the schools would stay open and pledged help and support, aiming for Oak Field to emerge from its special measures status and installing a permanent head teacher.

Oak Field parents had earlier presented a petition to Vale council leader Cllr Neil Moore.

After the meeting, Oak Field primary school campaigner and mum Rhian Samuel said: “We are very glad the cabinet has refused to close us down.

“We are going to move forward as a community starting with a new parent teachers association.

“We are a mindful there is not a permanent head teacher and the school has made a massive effort to be taken out of special measures. We are a community in need.”

She called for the original scrutiny report proposing the school closures to be made public and wants to see plans for investment in the school.

She also thanked all those who had supported the schools campaigns.

At the meeting councillors agreed the leaking of the report on the proposed closures had caused “unnecessary distress”.

Cabinet member for housing, building maintenance and community safety and Court ward councillor Bronwen Brooks said: “This report was leaked. It has caused unnecessary distress for people when there was no need.

“It has done untold damage as far as I’m concerned.”

Vale MP Alun Cairns praised the campaigners for pulling together. He said: “All involved in the campaigns should be congratulated.

“It was great so many parents and children attended the council meeting this week to show their strong support for their schools – evidence of their central role in their own communities.

“It’s vital now to make sure that the reasons for the U-turn by the council in deciding not to close the schools are noted, so that these can be used to safeguard the schools at any time in the future, should there be a change of plan again.”