FAMILIES in Haverfordwest, St Davids and Fishguard will not be the only ones affected if the county council’s proposed shake-up of secondary education goes ahead, parents heard last week.

In the last of a series of consultations by the council, parents from Milford Haven, Neyland, Johnston and Llangwm had the chance to find out more about the authority’s ‘transformative’ plans from Head of Education, Kate Evan-Hughes.

Despite only around 35 people attending the meeting at Milford Haven School on Wednesday (April 22), it was clear that parents, governors and local councillors were keen to learn how the changes could affect primary and secondary education.

Currently, it is proposed that the catchment areas for Tasker Milward and Sir Thomas Picton change, and that Cleddau Reach, Johnston and Neyland primaries become ‘feeder’ schools for Milford Haven secondary school.

Parents heard that there are currently 25 per cent surplus places at Milford Haven School, much higher than the 10 per cent that the Welsh Government and Estyn would like to see.

But several people said that – based on the council’s own figures - the influx of pupils from surrounding primaries would far exceed the number of empty places, and leave no ‘leeway’ for future growth.

One mother said: “It feels like our children are just numbers being moved around.”

She added that it seemed like there was lots of effort being made to reinvigorate schools in Haverfordwest, while children now destined for Milford Haven School would have to put up with an old building, in need of improvement.

Asked whether extra funding for Milford Haven had been identified, Mrs Evan-Hughes said she recognised the school was in need of investment, but said including the school in the application for 21st Century Schools funding could jeopardise eligibility for other funding.

Many parents also expressed concerned that the plans would ‘split up’ siblings in different years, and that even with the option of electing to send second or third siblings to Haverfordwest, parents would be left with a bill for transport.

There were also fears that families in Llangwm without a car would be unable to get to and from the school, as there is currently no bus route between the village and Milford Haven.

David Wilson, from Llangwm, said it was a ‘complete anomaly’ for people from Llangwm to travel to Milford Haven.

“The road leads to Haverfordwest, not Milford Haven,” he said.

“It’s to do with a culture of how you live your life.

“Many of us work, shop and went to school in Haverfordwest.

“Milford Haven doesn’t really appear on our radar.”

But local vicar, Father Harri Williams questioned why parents wouldn’t want their children to attend Milford Haven School, calling their criticisms ‘unhelpful’.

“These plans will only work if we work together, not pitch against each other,” he said, adding that he wanted to see ‘every child in Pembrokeshire receive a high level of education’.

And another local mother said she felt there had been not enough talk of the positives that new facilities in Haverfordwest could bring to the county, and was looking forward to seeing what the plans would look like.