A lengthy debate into the future of four Ceredigion schools was put on hold today (Tuesday, September 3) following an outburst from prominent Welsh language campaigner Ffred Ffrancis during a heated meeting where allegations officers had “lied” in their reports were heard.

Cabinet members, meeting on September 3, were recommended to back the start of statutory consultations for proposals to discontinue north county schools Ysgol Craig yr Wylfa, Borth, Ysgol Llanfihangel y Creuddyn, Ysgol Llangwyryfon, near Aberystwyth, and Ponterwyd’s Ysgol Syr John Rhys.

All four have similar recommendations, to approve a proposal to commence the statutory consultation process to cease to maintain the provision at [the relevant school] with effect from August 31 of next year.

Following consultations, the final decision to close any school would be undertaken by full council.

Welsh language campaign group Cymdeithas yr Iaith has said that if the Cabinet votes for such a consultation, they would immediately submit a complaint to the Minister for Education, saying that the council is not fulfilling its educational duties and is going against the School Organisation Code.

During the lengthy – and at times heated - debate at Penmorfa, Aberaeron, allegations were mentioned that officers had included misleading information in their reports on the schools, leader Cllr Bryan Davies telling members “quite serious allegations have been presented,” adding: “The allegation is officers have lied; the decision is difficult to make for us as a Cabinet, if the allegation that what is put in the papers is not correct; we must know what is put in the papers is correct.”

This was refuted by chief executive Eifion Evans, who said: “If any officer makes lies there would be a process to follow ; it’s the duty of the officers to be entirely factual, if there is proof of that I want to see it on my desk,” adding: “Nobody has brought any information to my attention.”

Some four hours into the meeting, members had agreed to back consultation at Ysgol Craig y Wyfla and were reaching the end of the debate on Ysgol Llanfihangel y Creuddyn when the veteran language campaigner for Cymdeithas yr Iaith, Ffred Ffransis was heard to utter outbursts from the public gallery.

After being asked to stop by the leader, the meeting was suspended shortly after 2pm, restarting some 15 minutes later when a consultation for Ysgol Llanfihangel y Creuddyn was agreed.

The Cabinet meeting has currently broken for lunch, with the fate of the two remaining schools to be discussed later this afternoon.

The changes in the fortunes of the four schools are detailed in individual reports for Cabinet members.

Ysgol Craig yr Wylfa has seen numbers decline from 42 in 2020, to 29 in 2024, with a forecast 22 pupils in 2019; the school having 44 surplus places (59 percent surplus), and the cost per pupil amounting to £7,640 against a Ceredigion average of £4,635.

It also lists are predicted school budget deficit for 2025 of £3,368.

Ysgol Llanfihangel y Creuddyn numbers in the report are: 30 (2020), 19 (2024), 19 (2029), with a 46 per cent surplus of 17, and a per pupil cost of £6,978, with a deficit of £27,488.

Ysgol Llangwyryfon: 46 (2020), 30 (2024), 22 (2029), with a 45 per cent surplus of 25, and a per pupil cost of £6,321, with a deficit of £23,916.

Ysgol Syr John Rhys: 25 (2020), 22 (2024), 19 (2029), with a 46 per cent surplus of 18, and a per pupil cost of £7,949.

The report says that Ysgol Syr John Rhys also has maintenance backlog costs of £77,500.

In the individual reports it is suggested Craig Yr Wylfa pupils could be moved to nearby Ysgol Talybont or the schools acting as one school on two sites; Ysgol Llanfihangel y Creuddyn and Ysgol Llangwyryfon either forming a partnership with Ysgol Llanilar, or all pupils could transfering to Llanilar; pupils from Ysgol John Rhys pupils transferring to another nearby school, or a federation formed.

Ffred Ffransis, of Cymdeithas yr Iaith’s Education Group, said: “I interjected towards the end of the discussion on Ysgol Llanfihangel-y-Creuddun, when cabinet members began suggesting alternate options for the fate of the school other than closure. By that point the discussion had become farcical, and extremely misleading, as the proposal papers have already set out closure as the predetermined outcome of the consultation, without any kind of open or democratic engagement with the communities these decisions will impact. 

“The Welsh Government’s School Organisation Code clearly states that all other options apart from closure must be considered while proposals are still at a formative stage, with a presumption in favour of maintaining rural schools. Nobody can seriously claim that due process has been carried out by Ceredigion Council, as the formative stage of the council’s policy has taken place behind closed doors.”

“I also complained that we have received radio silence from the council since our initial correspondence in June, when we advised them against breaking the code.” 

More to follow on the final decision.