Comments on: Possible Closure of Govilon Primary http://blog.govilon.com/news/2009/possible-closure-of-govilon-primary The official community blog for the village of Govilon Fri, 26 Mar 2010 10:32:38 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Cheryl Phillips http://blog.govilon.com/news/2009/possible-closure-of-govilon-primary/comment-page-1#comment-3 Cheryl Phillips Wed, 03 Jun 2009 11:20:19 +0000 http://blog.govilon.com/?p=27#comment-3 June 3rd 2009. Re: proposed closure of Govilon School To whoever it may concern, I am both a parent and a previous pupil of Govilon School. I feel strongly that the proposed closure lacks foresight into the impact upon the community and future of our local children. Three generations of my family have attended the school and I would like the option to be there for this to continue. Though I currently live in Gilwern generations of my family still live in Govilon and I see it as my home. I made the choice that my daughter also attended Govilon School with her grandparents nearby. Issues: • The village needs the school as a fundamental and integral part of societal functions, which include being able to walk to school, having a community who know each other, participating in school events and the sense of pride associated with the achievements gained through the school and pupils who attend. • Transporting children to somewhere such as Llanfoist will destroy a community and all that it has to offer in a time where the structure of society is being criticised for loss of values, principles, morals, which are the very things a small village school such as Govilon can offer and perhaps why we choose to send them there. • When discussions were held and Llanfoist was identified for redevelopment we were promised that this would not in anyway jeopardise Govilon School yet here we are in discussions again. The value of this school to the local community has to be carefully balanced against the monetary implications and perhaps investment is what is required rather than closure. I must note here that the Welsh Assembly Government have invested much less in education than the rest of the UK. As recently reported in the Wales this Week programme (aired 02/06/09 BBC 1). • It also seems foolhardy to assume parents want their children in larger schools as many move to the Govilon area because of the small village school. Also note that areas such as the Elms Estate demographically includes retired people who have lived there since it was built and as their homes come up for sale in the future new and potentially younger people will arrive needing the school for their children. • Common sense says that statistical projections regarding anticipated school numbers/ capacity/ surplus places could be wrong and we end up worse off as a result in the future. Note that in England they closed small schools based on such projections only to be faced with a baby boom and now lack the necessary facilities. • The impact of the uncertainty regarding Govilon School’s future on current pupil numbers must also be factored into discussion. • The economic downturn will not last forever and as the economy becomes more buoyant again the housing market will lead to changes in potential pupil numbers. • Providing transport and the logistical juggling that will occur as a result of closing Govilon School will inevitably drastically increase the carbon footprint of the village and subsequent school area the children move to, which can only be negative in view of Government agendas to reduce such issues. • The cost quoted to rebuild Govilon School and make it fit for purpose is £4.5 million, however we were told that Gilwern School though replicating this situation with its own buildings would not be rebuilt, but refurbished. What is the cost of this for Govilon School and can we not pursue that possibility instead? It is vital that Govilon village does not loose out because new school developments have greatly misjudged capacity or from a more cynical view were built with future aims of closure in place and the surplus space requires filling. Govilon has a Church, Chapel, two public houses, a village store, village hall and sports playing fields. How sad it would be to say that it is not home to a village school. In the long term I feel it would be detrimental to the future of the village and readjustments such as closure are not always the right answer despite what figures may say. Also note the following: The Department for Children, Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills contributes to the Welsh Assembly Government's vision of better public services set out in ‘Making the Connections’. The Department’s key objectives include: • Having properly accommodated, funded and well-governed education establishments which meet the demand for places, deliver high standards of education and offer facilities for the community. June 3rd 2009.

Re: proposed closure of Govilon School

To whoever it may concern,

I am both a parent and a previous pupil of Govilon School. I feel strongly that the proposed closure lacks foresight into the impact upon the community and future of our local children. Three generations of my family have attended the school and I would like the option to be there for this to continue. Though I currently live in Gilwern generations of my family still live in Govilon and I see it as my home. I made the choice that my daughter also attended Govilon School with her grandparents nearby.

Issues:

• The village needs the school as a fundamental and integral part of societal functions, which include being able to walk to school, having a community who know each other, participating in school events and the sense of pride associated with the achievements gained through the school and pupils who attend.

• Transporting children to somewhere such as Llanfoist will destroy a community and all that it has to offer in a time where the structure of society is being criticised for loss of values, principles, morals, which are the very things a small village school such as Govilon can offer and perhaps why we choose to send them there.

• When discussions were held and Llanfoist was identified for redevelopment we were promised that this would not in anyway jeopardise Govilon School yet here we are in discussions again. The value of this school to the local community has to be carefully balanced against the monetary implications and perhaps investment is what is required rather than closure. I must note here that the Welsh Assembly Government have invested much less in education than the rest of the UK. As recently reported in the Wales this Week programme (aired 02/06/09 BBC 1).

• It also seems foolhardy to assume parents want their children in larger schools as many move to the Govilon area because of the small village school. Also note that areas such as the Elms Estate demographically includes retired people who have lived there since it was built and as their homes come up for sale in the future new and potentially younger people will arrive needing the school for their children.

• Common sense says that statistical projections regarding anticipated school numbers/ capacity/ surplus places could be wrong and we end up worse off as a result in the future. Note that in England they closed small schools based on such projections only to be faced with a baby boom and now lack the necessary facilities.

• The impact of the uncertainty regarding Govilon School’s future on current pupil numbers must also be factored into discussion.

• The economic downturn will not last forever and as the economy becomes more buoyant again the housing market will lead to changes in potential pupil numbers.

• Providing transport and the logistical juggling that will occur as a result of closing Govilon School will inevitably drastically increase the carbon footprint of the village and subsequent school area the children move to, which can only be negative in view of Government agendas to reduce such issues.

• The cost quoted to rebuild Govilon School and make it fit for purpose is £4.5 million, however we were told that Gilwern School though replicating this situation with its own buildings would not be rebuilt, but refurbished. What is the cost of this for Govilon School and can we not pursue that possibility instead?

It is vital that Govilon village does not loose out because new school developments have greatly misjudged capacity or from a more cynical view were built with future aims of closure in place and the surplus space requires filling.

Govilon has a Church, Chapel, two public houses, a village store, village hall and sports playing fields. How sad it would be to say that it is not home to a village school. In the long term I feel it would be detrimental to the future of the village and readjustments such as closure are not always the right answer despite what figures may say.

Also note the following: The Department for Children, Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills contributes to the Welsh Assembly Government’s vision of better public services set out in ‘Making the Connections’.

The Department’s key objectives include:
• Having properly accommodated, funded and well-governed education establishments which meet the demand for places, deliver high standards of education and offer facilities for the community.

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