A petition challenging the consultation on the potential closure of Manorbier School will go before county councillors at a full meeting of Pembrokeshire County Council tomorrow (December 12).

Earlier this year, PCC members backed a report of the School Modernisation Working Group which included statutory consultation with the St David’s Diocese on proposals to discontinue Manorbier Church in Wales Voluntary Controlled School, Ysgol Clydau in Tegryn, and establishing Cilgerran Church in Wales Voluntary Controlled School as a 3-11 Community School.

An e-petition on behalf of Manorbier, on the county council’s own website, has gained over 1,500 signatures to date. A similar petition on behalf of Ysgol Clydau has also been set up.

Manorbier Church in Wales VC School and its adjoining schoolhouse was severely damaged by a fire in October 2022, which broke out in the school roof space.

Ahead of the meeting, Friends of Manorbier School shared: “A huge thank you, Manorbier Community! We want to express our heartfelt thanks to everyone who has signed and shared the petition to save Manorbier School.

“With over 1,500 signatures, the support has been truly incredible. It shows just how much our school means to the community — and with numbers like that, we hope Pembrokeshire County Council will listen and reconsider their proposal to close it.

“We will be presenting the petition at the Council Cabinet meeting on Friday, 12th December. You just never know…this could be the moment they change their minds.

“Thank you again for standing with us. Your support means everything.”

At the same meeting, county councillor for the ward of Manorbier, Cllr Phil Kidney will also put forward a question to full council, asking: “Would the Cabinet Member for Education, agree that the recent consultation document regarding the future of Manorbier school was both misleading, and stacked heavily in favour of St Florence school, the Council’s preferred choice if Manorbier was to close?”

Also at the meeting, on the agenda are further educational considerations for the County Council, which could spark major changes for other schools in the area - which could see consideration given to the discontinuation of three longstanding primary schools Tenby VC School, Saundersfoot School, and Stepaside School; with the possibility of Ysgol Greenhill being turned into a ‘campus’ for 3 to 19 age groups.

On the agenda for the meeting at County Hall, Haverfordwest, are recommendations of the ‘School Modernisation Working Group’ - and for approval to be given to the Director of Education to commence statutory consultation on specific proposals for school provision for the locality.

The recommendation is as follows, that the Director of Education be authorised to commence statutory consultation on the following...

a) on establishing a new 3-19 school - split site initially, but as part of future SCfL investment to rebuild /extend Greenhill site, or on a new site:

I. with the St David’s Diocese to discontinue Tenby Church in Wales Voluntary Controlled School and;

II. to discontinue Ysgol Greenhill.

b) on establishing a new 3-11 primary school on the Saundersfoot School Site that encompasses the catchment of Saundersfoot and the Catchment of Stepaside and Kilgetty:

I. To discontinue Saundersfoot School and;

II. To discontinue Stepaside school.