Councillors voted to proceed with a consultation on school reorganisation proposals affecting four schools in the Tenby and Saundersfoot areas
Robert Harries Senior Reporter, Bruce Sinclair and Local Democracy Reporter
12:18, 15 Dec 2025
Stepaside School in Pembrokeshire (Image: Local Democracy Reporting Service)
A proposal for a pause before deciding on the potential closure of schools in Pembrokeshire, part of a broader series of proposed educational changes in the county, has been rejected at a full council meeting.
During the full council meeting of Pembrokeshire Council on December 12, members were asked to authorise the education director to conduct a public consultation. This would be regarding the establishment of a new 3-19 school, initially across split sites, but with future investment aimed at rebuilding or extending Tenby’s Ysgol Greenhill site, or potentially relocating to a new site.
The recommendation also suggested discontinuing Tenby Church in Wales Voluntary Controlled School and Ysgol Greenhill. Read the biggest stories in Wales first by signing up to our daily newsletter here.
Another part of the series of recommendations called for the creation of a new 3-11 primary school on the Saundersfoot School site, leading to the discontinuation of Saundersfoot School and Stepaside School.
A report presented to members highlighted that there were 534 surplus places in the primary sector in the Tenby area, and 341 surplus places in the secondary sector at Greenhill School.
In the case of Tenby Church in Wales VC, the report indicated that the school was projected to have a surplus capacity of 38.1% by 2025, and over a 25% level for at least four years.
For Ysgol Greenhill, the report stated that the school, which has a capacity for 1,194 pupils, would have 877 pupils by 2025, resulting in 28.5% surplus places.
At Saundersfoot Community Primary School, which can accommodate 280 pupils, projections show numbers falling to 151 by 2025, leaving nearly half its capacity unused (49.2%).
Regarding Stepaside, the report states: “By 2025, enrolment is projected at 107, creating 101 surplus places – over half of the school’s capacity (50.5%).”
For the Tenby area proposals, an amendment by local member, Councillor Sam Skyrme-Blackhall, which included the consultation acknowledging the importance of VC schools and secondary Welsh language education, was incorporated, with the recommendation receiving overwhelming support.
On the second matter, councillor Alistair Cameron, local member for Stepaside, supported by fellow councillor Alec Cormack, requested a postponement of any decision regarding the school, noting that the institution had only been formally notified of the proposals days earlier.
Councillor Cormack acknowledged that maintaining the current situation was unsustainable, with pupil numbers declining “both due to second homes and retirees moving into the area,” noting that whilst both Saundersfoot and Stepaside schools were well run, they were “just too small for the buildings we have them in,” suggesting the school sites could be downsized, “eliminating surplus space”.
He continued: “Today’s proposal is to close the Kilgetty site to save money and then spend money bussing pupils to the Saundersfoot site. It’s only natural justice to give the school communities the chance of a fair hearing, there’s no reason to rush this decision today.”
Councillor Aled Thomas, who chairs the council’s schools working group, dismissed the deferral request as “a consultation to have a consultation,” noting the proposals “had been in the public domain for well over 12 months”. He added: “Members, of course, are going to fight for their communities but this is just a tactic pushing it further down the line.”
Councillor Cormack hit back: “The school heard about this on Monday, the very people that are expert at delivering education have had no warning of this, I don’t understand why there is a need to press ahead so quickly, the communities deserve to be given more than three days’ notice of the proposal.”
Cabinet member for education, Councillor Guy Woodham, emphasised there was no plan to hold any consultation before September, 2026, allowing “a lot of time for alternative proposals”.
Councillor Cameron’s amendment seeking a deferral was rejected by 37 votes to 12 with one accidental abstention, with members later informed this was meant to be a vote against deferral.
The original motion was subsequently approved by 42 votes to seven.
