A VILLAGE school which was originally built over 150 years ago should be able to look forward to a ‘sustainable future’ if it is federated with another, Pembrokeshire County Council has suggested.

Eighteen months ago, the authority launched a preliminary consultation on education in the Templeton area, with concern being expressed at the amount of spare places at Templeton School, while demand for places at Tavernspite School is high.

A meeting of full council tomorrow (Thursday) will be recommended to give the go-ahead for the director for children and schools, Kate Evan-Hughes, to start consultation on the proposal to federate Tavernspite and Templeton CP Schools.

“Federation is not an amalgamation, a take-over or a route to closure,” Ms Evan-Hughes said in her report to the council. “Rather, it is a partnership of the two schools sharing a joint vision for a venture that would serve the interests of pupils, staff and both school communities.”

The schools would remain as separate establishments and funded and inspected sedately. Howver, they would share a governing body, with an executive head teacher in charge of the two sites.

Money saved by not employing two heads could be used to improve resources or staffing arrangements.

Tavernspite CP School’s head teacher, Kevin Phelps, has assumed this role since the retirement of Templeton’s head, Mike Perkins, at the end of the 2013/14 academic year.

Said Ms Evan-Hughes: “The arrangement ….fulfils the potential for improved educational standards and improved leadership at Templeton CP School.”

Feedback from pupils, staff and governors on the new arrangements has been good, she added.

“It is considered that federation provides the best possible option for a sustainable future for Templeton CP School.”