CABINET members at Flintshire Council will be asked to review the results of the consultation to re-designate Lixwm Community Primary (CP) school.

A formal consultation took place between September 26 and November 11 to gather opinions on the proposed change of designation of Lixwm CP school to a Voluntary Aided (VA) school which would then allow the school to form a federation with Ysgol Y Esgob VA school in Caerwys.

Flintshire Council has said this is necessary because the Federation of Maintained Schools (Wales) Regulations 2014 does not allow schools with a faith or trust base such as those that are voluntary aided or voluntary controlled to federate with community schools.

During the consultation, there were 36 online responses, 97 per cent of which were in favour of the proposal.

There were also consultation events held with the school council of Lixwm school and seven other potentially affected schools, including Ysgol Y Esgob.

There were no concerns or issues raised by children and young people during the consultation period.

The Diocese of St Asaph, the local councillor and the Chairs of Governors of both Lixwm CP and Caerwys VA schools, have all responded positively to the proposals.

In addition, Estyn has concluded the proposed new arrangement will at least maintain the standards and outcomes for pupils in the area.

Claire Homard, Flintshire Council’s chief officer for education and youth, said: “There is clear support from all sides for the re-designation of Lixwm CP school and it would seem appropriate that we proceed to the next stage of statutory proposals.”

The council's cabinet will meet to discuss the consultation results on December 17.

Should members determine that the re-designation should proceed, the council will publish a Statutory Notice providing a 28 day notice period for objections.

If objections are received, the council must publish a report providing a summary of the objections and their responses to them. This report would be brought back to Cabinet in March 2020.