Published date: 12 August 2016 | Published by: Rachel Nash
Plans to close Ysgol Pentrecelyn have been blocked by the High Court.
Denbighshire County Council's plans to merge the Welsh medium school with the bilingual school Ysgol Llanfair Dyffryn Clwyd were heavily criticised by campaigners fighting to keep the school open. They argued that the council's actions would damage the state of the Welsh language in the area and described the plans as "flawed and illogical".
In 2015 the council announced the plans to close the school 56 pupil school and merge it with a larger bilingual Ysgol Llanfair Dyffryn Clwyd, in a new building on a different site. The new school would be a bilingual school, not a Welsh-medium school.
In an historic judgement, made after after a two-day hearing in Mold, the council's plans were deemed "hopelessly confused."
It is the first time ever that a court has intervened to prevent a school closure due to a failure to assess its impact on the Welsh language properly.
A spokesman for Denbighshire county Council said: "“While we are disappointed with the decision of the judicial review we welcome clarification in terms of this complex procedure.
“We remain committed to developing the best educational facilities in Denbighshire, shown by our significant successful track record in delivering projects. We have invested in a number of projects to modernise education facilities including; The completed projects of Rhyl New School, Ysgol Bro Dyfrdwy, Cynwyd, Bodnant Community School, Ysgol Twm o’r Nant, Denbigh and Ysgol Y Llys and currently on site at Ysgol Glan Clwyd, with a total of £50m of investment.
“The Council will take time to consider its position and reflect on the judgement and guidance given by the Court. We will bring forward proposals to continue to implement its vision of first class, 21st century education for all school pupils.”
Llyr Gruffydd AM said: "“This judgement has highlighted a shocking failure on behalf of Denbighshire County Council to fully consider the implications of their proposals on the Welsh language.
“Serious questions must be asked about the Welsh Government and the Welsh Language Commissioner’s failure to intervene in this process.
"If it wasn’t for a small group of dedicated parents and supporters of the school, Denbighshire’s proposals would have been implemented on what has now been proven to be an unlawful consultation based on an unlawful language impact assessment.
“The Welsh Government must now act on its rhetoric of creating one million Welsh speakers by ensuring Local Education Authorities do more to proactively strengthen Welsh medium provision.
“Denbighshire County Council must accept it has a responsibility not only to retain the existing level of Welsh medium education in the area but to strengthen it.
"We look forward to seeing the council take this legal ruling into account as it reflects on the language category of the proposed new area school.”
