PARENTS CALL FOR NUMBERS CHECK

Sian David - 21 June 2005

Councillors will double check the figures which have partly prompted school closure proposal in Swansea to make sure they are right. The axe is set to fall on Dylan Thomas Community School in Cockett because Swansea Council says its pupil numbers are falling.

But after strong protests from more than 300 angry parents at a consultation meeting at the school last night, council education chiefs are to review the figures.

The authority claims that 60 per cent of 11 to 16-year-olds in the school's catchment area choose to attend other schools.

It is one of the reasons why the school is being earmarked for closure.

But parents say that this is just not the case.

Now councillors say they are going to get the figures checked to make sure they are right.

John Spencer, whose son Stephen is in year eight as the school, told last night's meeting: "Everything you have said is based on figures which are incorrect. If you can put your hands up and say sorry, we made a mistake and we need to look at the figures again, I would walk out of here a happy man. But all I am hearing from the council is lies."

Councillor Mike Day, cabinet member for education admitted that the figures should be reviewed.

He said: "We do need to look at them again. We need to ensure that we are talking from the same point of view."

The council is proposing to axe the school within two years and send its 500-plus pupils to Bishop Gore school in Sketty.

The site could then be sold off with the millions being paid for it being re-invested in education in Swansea. It is part of the biggest shake-up to hit city schools in years. More closures could follow when other areas are looked at later this year.

At a cabinet meeting last week, councillors took the decision to press ahead with the closure, although the final decision will rest with the Assembly.

Teacher Lin Fly, who wants both of her daughters to attend the school, said: "I have been teaching for 30 years and I can honestly say that this is probably the best school I have ever worked in. I want my children to be educated in a small family school, with the dedicated and friendly staff which we have at Dylan Thomas."

The final decision on the school's future will be taken by August.

Parent Helen Davies, of Townhill, said: " The fight is still a long way from being over.

"We are not the easy targets the council thought we would be.''