'CLOSE RURAL SCHOOLS'

One councillor's suggestion to 'outdated' education funding formula that 'short-changes' county:

- By RICHARD EVANS Local Democracy Reporter

AN outspoken councillor has proposed closing rural schools in Conwy county, claiming the move would save money and improve education.

Abergele councillor Paul Luckock says rural schools are costing the council £14,000 per head, compared to £4,000 per pupil at larger schools.

Conwy's cabinet has repeatedly blamed the Welsh Government at council meetings, citing an "outdated" funding formula that short-changes the authority compared to neighbouring Denbighshire, as well as some authorities in South Wales.

Several schools in Conwy have been amalgamated as part of Conwy's "rationalisation" of primary schools, which has seen primary schools in Mochdre and Abergele placed under one administration.

Conwy is taking part in a public consultation over the amalgamation of Ysgol Hen Golwyn and Ysgol T Gwynn Jones in the latest move to save funds.

But Cllr Luckock claims Conwy has too many schools with too few pupils, arguing closing rural schools would save money.

"Since I was elected in May 2022, we've not progressed at the speed we should have both in the amalgamation of schools and the closure of some small schools and the building of area schools," he said.