Plans for a new £55 million Catholic school in North Wales are progressing, amid controversy over it being church-owned.
If approved, the school for pupils aged 3 to 18 in Flint would be largely funded by Welsh taxpayers, but owned by the Diocese of Wrexham.
The proposal involves closing four existing Catholic schools in Flintshire: St David’s Primary in Mold, St Anthony’s Primary in Saltney, St Mary’s Primary in Flint, and St Richard Gwyn Catholic High School. The new “super-school” would bring together students from all four sites onto a single campus.
Funding for the project is expected to come primarily from the Welsh Government’s Sustainable Communities for Learning Programme, which would provide 85 per cent of the cost (approximately £46.75 million), with the Diocese of Wrexham contributing the remaining 15 per cent.
The plans have generated opposition from some parents’ groups, particularly at St Anthony’s and St David’s. Members of the St David’s School Action Group held a protest march last weekend, voicing concerns about the proposed closures and future educational provision in the area.
During a recent meeting of the council’s Education, Youth & Culture Overview & Scrutiny Committee, questions were raised about the ownership of the new school building once completed.
The Welsh Government has since clarified that under current arrangements for voluntary aided schools, “the school buildings and land are usually owned by trustees, typically the Diocesan.” A Senedd spokesperson added: “The Sustainable Communities for Learning Programme supports investment in education infrastructure across Voluntary Aided, Voluntary Controlled and Local Authority maintained schools. In all cases, the asset remains in the ownership of delivery partners following the investment.”
Consultations on the plans were initially expected to open this month, but will now begin by Tuesday, 3rd June 2025 at the latest.
A council spokesperson said: “The council can confirm that the consultation is scheduled to go live on or before 3rd June 2025 and finish before the start of the school summer holidays, subject to the finalisation of the necessary documentation and approvals.”
Sarah Cunningham, from the St David’s School Action Group told Nation Cymru that the wait was making parents anxious.
“We believe it’s a deliberate attempt to let all the noise pass and it brings the dates exceedingly close to the summer holidays,” she said.