Stepaside Community Primary School to remain OPEN!
The Governing Body of Stepaside Community Primary School are delighted to share the exciting news that the school will remain open for many years to come! This is a tremendous achievement for the community that is served by the school in Kilgetty.
The Governing Body continues to believe that the original proposal to close Stepaside School and transfer all pupils to Saundersfoot was ill-informed. We remain concerned that the school capacity, projected pupil numbers and budgetary figures used to inform the proposal were outdated and did not provide a reliable basis for decision-making. In addition, we feel that the potential impact on the local community was not explored in sufficient depth, with limited engagement undertaken with those most affected. We were deeply disappointed that those responsible for developing the proposal had not visited the school to gain a first-hand understanding of its unique strengths and the community it serves.
The appointment of new Cabinet Members provided a valuable opportunity for a fresh perspective. We are grateful to Cllr Paul Miller, along with the many County Councillors, Members of Parliament and Senedd Members who took the time to visit the school and see first-hand the high-quality education it provides, as well as the significant impact that its closure would have on pupils, families and the wider community.
These visits gave us the opportunity to demonstrate what Stepaside School is all about – the values we uphold, the high-quality education we provide, and the vital role the school plays in supporting both our pupils and the wider community. Those who visited saw first-hand what Estyn recognised in its recent inspection: "a happy place where pupils feel safe and are eager to learn", "a school with a nurturing ethos", and "a welcoming, calm and purposeful learning environment", where "pupils make good progress in their learning" and "are proud of their achievements".
We maintain that closing successful schools is not the right approach to educational development. Rural schools are far more than places of learning; they are at the heart of their communities, and their loss has far-reaching consequences for local families and community life. We also question whether replacing well-performing medium-sized primary schools with much larger schools represents the best use of public resources, or delivers the best outcomes for children's wellbeing, particularly in rural areas. Approaches that may be appropriate in cities should not automatically be applied to counties such as Pembrokeshire, where vibrant rural schools play a vital role in sustaining thriving local communities.
We are delighted that Stepaside School will continue to serve the children and families of our catchment area for many years to come. As we look ahead to September, we look forward to welcoming new pupils into our thriving school community.
If you are looking for a school where children are happy, valued and inspired to achieve their best, we would love to welcome you. Come and see for yourself the nurturing environment, high-quality education and strong sense of community that make Stepaside School such a special place to learn.
To arrange a visit or find out more about joining our school, please contact us. We look forward to welcoming you and showing you why Stepaside School is a place where every child can thrive.
Admin.stepaside@pembrokeshire.gov.uk
Quote from Liam Cullen:
"Stepaside is a school that me and all my family attended, from my mum and auntie to now my nephew and niece. It is a school that provided me and every other student with an amazing education and set me and others up perfectly to move on to secondary school. I met so many friends at school that I am still in contact with and always will be close to. Alongside my brilliant education from all of the staff, they also facilitated my aims and dream of making it to where I am today being a footballer. Me and my family couldn’t have done it without the help of the school's staff, allowing me to train and play most days whilst keeping on top of my education and giving me exactly what I needed to succeed both in school and out of school."