A PUBLIC meeting is being called in St Davids on Monday night following the announcement that Ysgol Dewi Sant could close as part of a radical shake up of secondary education.

Under Pembrokeshire County Council’s proposals, the school will be discontinued along with Ysgol Bro Gwaun in order to establish a new 11-16 secondary school on the site of the current Ysgol Bro Gwaun School in Fishguard.

Sir Thomas Picton School and Tasker Milward VC School will also be discontinued, making way for a new 11-16 secondary school on the site of the current Sir Thomas Picton School.

The proposals are the preferred option by the County Council following a review and preliminary consultation last year. They will be presented in a detailed report to councillors at an Extraordinary Meeting at County Hall on Thursday, January 29.

Following the announcement, a public meeting has been called for 5pm on Monday, January 26 at City Hall, St Davids, to be chaired by County Councillor David Lloyd.

Among those attending is the clerk of St Davids City Council, Heidi Gray, who is a former pupil of Ysgol Dewi Sant.

She said: “I’m really disappointed, especially when considering how much has been achieved at the school since the Estyn report of July 2013.

“The progress the school has made has almost been discounted by the County Council.

“None of the options preferred by the community have even been considered and I think people are really frustrated."

The Mayor of St Davids, Councillor David Halse said: “I am utterly devastated by the news of this proposal. It’s a proposal that the community here cannot accept.

“It’s an appalling decision by Pembrokeshire County Council, one that will have an enormous impact on St Davids, both socially and economically.

“I fully understand the need for 21st century education, but our school is full and has a good ethos.

“Rest assured the City Council is united with the school’s governors to try and get secondary education back on the agenda.”

The headteacher of Ysgol Dewi Sant, David Haynes has sent letter home with pupils today (Friday) in an attempt to reassure parents and students that whatever decisions are made about the school, the staff and leadership will not be distracted from their core purpose of providing the best possible educational opportunities.

A public demonstration is also being planned ahead of Thursday’s meetings. Protestors are expected to gather outside County Hall from 8am, ahead of the meeting’s start at 9am.