Schools in turmoil

There are more than 50,000 places in Gwent primary schools with 5,668 unfilled -- leaving almost one in ten desks spare.

Councils say a drop in the birth-rate has led to a fall in school rolls. They warn the situation is only likely to get worse.

The fall also has a knock-on effect in secondary schools where a similar picture is painted.

Torfaen council is facing the biggest shortfall of all Gwent councils, with 1,872 surplus primary places.

Monmouthshire has 1,299 places, Caerphilly 1,295, Blaenau Gwent 818 and Newport 384.

As pupil numbers drop, councils say schools are unable to deliver the required curriculum. Consequently they receive less funding from the Assembly.

Council education chiefs have said urgent action is needed and authorities have launched a controversial programme of school closures and amalgamations to combat the problem.

Mike de Val, director of education in Torfaen, said: "Estyn and the Audit Commission are telling us money is being wasted because of surplus places. If we don't address the issue it is going to get worse and we will open ourselves up to severe criticism.

"We need to stop wasting money on surplus places so the vast majority of children can have a better learning environment."

In a series of features this week, the Argus takes an in-depth look at the school closures issue by speaking to those involved.

In the first of our features we look at the background.

*A CRISIS of surplus places has prompted decisions to close schools - decisions that have mobilised opposition and placed the debate centre-stage.

Barely a day goes by without a story about school closures making the headlines.

In September 2004 there were 5,668 surplus primary school places in Gwent, with secondary schools also affected.

Local education authorities are arguing that the status quo can't go on, while campaigners claim the arguments are bogus.

Torfaen council is consulting on the closure of three primary schools as well as a number of mergers, in a bid to cut back the number of surplus places.

The council says the current figure of 1,600 surplus places will rise to 2,500 by 2008 - one in four primary school places.

Brookfield Primary in Cwmbran, Pentwyn Primary in Abersychan, and Ponthir Primary all face the axe.

Education chiefs are also locked in a long-running battle with parents and governors at Trevethin Community school. The comprehensive is earmarked for closure and outraged protesters have staged demonstrations in the streets.

Linda Foxwell, a mother and local campaigner, said during a recent march: "Our children have a right to be educated in the community - we want the council to understand the depth of feeling."

Newport council is also facing up to hard economics - too many schools and spiralling maintenance costs.

Millbrook, Monnow, Malpas Park, and St David Lewis primaries and Don Close Nursery are all facing closure or amalgamation.

Millbrook and Monnow are to be combined on one site, while Malpas Park is to be merged with Malpas Court primary school.

The Roman Catholic Diocesan Commission announced the planned closure of St David Lewis, the city's smallest school, at the end of last year.

After the plans for the Malpas and Bettws schools were announced, Councillor Bob Poole, cabinet member for education, said: "It would be easy for us to do nothing, but we want to manage Newport's education properly."

At Monmouthshire county council, 1,299 surplus primary school places were identified in 2003. Five primary schools in Abergavenny are in line to merge and form two new schools - due to open in September 2005, and three other schools face controversial closure - Llanover, Darenfelen and Clydach primaries.

Park Street Infants, Croesonnen Infants, Llwynu Infants, St Davids Junior, and Harold Road Junior School are being replaced by one brand new school, Deri View, plus a completely refurbished Harold Road, to be renamed Cantref.

The head of school improvement in Monmouthshire, Malcolm Morris, said he got parents on-side by promising to deliver even better schools.

"We had to prove to all and sundry - including the Assembly, that we would then provide better schools, and solve the problem of surplus places," he said.

Today, members of protest group Llanover Action will be in Abergavenny's Red Square collecting signatures against their school's closure.

Along with newly-formed action groups across Gwent, they're lobbying politicians and putting up hundreds of posters in windows and on roadsides.

Ultimately the Assembly makes the decision on whether a school closes or not and campaigners are pinning their hopes on blowing a hole in the local authorities' arguments.