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Fantastic response to Broughton and Saltney education survey

Published: 05/12/2023

More than 1,500 people have had their say on the future of education in Broughton and Saltney.

Flintshire County Council carried out an early engagement exercise over the summer term to gauge the views of the community and shape the future of educational provision in the area.

The survey, which was widely circulated in the community, ran from Tuesday, June 6, 2023 until Monday, July 3, 2023, and gathered 1,503 public responses. There was also a high level of engagement from pupils who were consulted on the plans.

Respondents were presented with a number of potential options:

1.       Do nothing – schools in Broughton and Saltney to remain as they are.

2.       Do the minimum to remove a backlog of maintenance issues.

3.       Refurbish and extend existing facilities (where possible).

4.       Build a 3 -16 campus to accommodate St David’s High School and a merged Saltney Ferry CP and Saltney Wood Memorial School.

5.       Build a 3 -16 all-through school.

6.       Build a new 11-16 Secondary School St David’s High School on the Bretton site and build new 3-11 Primary School on the old site of St David’s High School.

7.       Close St David’s High School.

The majority (443) of people strongly disagreed with option 1 to do nothing and for schools to remain as they are. Option 6 is the most favoured in terms of the number of ‘strongly agree’ responses (383), however, 205 people also strongly disagree.

Option 3 is the most favoured in overall terms with 332 responders strongly agreeing and 235 agreeing. Meanwhile, option 7 was overwhelmingly the least favoured proposal with 717 strongly disagree responses and only 52 strongly agreeing.

Building conditions and standards of facilities were perceived to be the largest issue when asked what the biggest concern about their school is.

Cabinet member for Education, Councillor Mared Eastwood, said: “Thank you to everyone who took part in the early engagement survey. The overall response has been positive but there is a general consensus in the community that there needs to be change and that investment is desired.

“Flintshire County Council is committed to providing high-quality teaching and opportunities for students. We are working towards a plan that delivers a new strategy for education in the area which is sustainable and affordable.”

The outcome of the survey will go to Cabinet to be discussed by members in the coming months.